Uromyces is a genus of rust fungi in the family Pucciniaceae. The genus was described by Franz Unger in his 1833 work Die Exantheme der Pflanzen. They have a worldwide distribution but large occurrences happen in North America and Europe.
The genus is the second-largest plant pathogenic rust genus, which is responsible for various plant affecting diseases, and it has major effects on both agricultural and non-agricultural plants. The genus is generally characterized by its unicellular teliospores (thick-walled resting spores) that help to characterize it and distinguish it from another important and large rust genus, Puccinia.
The Uromyces fungal species have been recorded on various host plants belonging to a wide range of the families, including Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Liliaceae, Loranthaceae, and Poaceae. Family Loranthaceae is listed to be the most affected by the fungus.
, the GBIF lists up to 1,048 species, while Species Fungorum lists about 1,239 species (with many former species).[1] The Encyclopedia of Life lists 969 species.[2]
See main article: List of Uromyces species.
Selected species in the genus Uromyces include: