A higher-rank classification for rust fungi, with notes on genera

The rust fungi (<i>Pucciniales</i>) with 7000+ species comprise one of the largest orders of <i>Fungi</i>, and one for which taxonomy at all ranks remains problematic. Here we provide a taxonomic framework, based on 16 years of sampling that includes <i>ca</i>. 80 % of accepted genera including type species wherever possible, and three DNA loci used to resolve the deeper nodes of the rust fungus tree of life. <i>Pucciniales</i> are comprised of seven suborders - <i>Araucariomycetineae subord. nov., Melampsorineae</i>, <i>Mikronegeriineae</i>, <i>Raveneliineae subord. nov., Rogerpetersoniineae subord. nov.</i>, <i>Skierkineae subord. nov</i>., and <i>Uredinineae</i> - and 18 families - <i>Araucariomycetaceae fam. nov</i>., <i>Coleosporiaceae</i>, <i>Crossopsoraceae fam. nov., Gymnosporangiaceae, Melampsoraceae</i>, <i>Milesinaceae fam. nov</i>., <i>Ochropsoraceae fam.</i> & <i>stat. nov</i>., <i>Phakopsoraceae</i>, <i>Phragmidiaceae</i>, <i>Pileolariaceae</i>, <i>Pucciniaceae, Pucciniastraceae</i>, <i>Raveneliaceae</i>, <i>Rogerpetersoniaceae fam. nov</i>., <i>Skierkaceae fam.</i> & <i>stat. nov</i>., <i>Sphaerophragmiaceae</i>, <i>Tranzscheliaceae fam.</i> & <i>stat. nov</i>., and <i>Zaghouaniaceae</i>. The new genera <i>Araucariomyces</i> (for <i>Aecidium fragiforme</i> and <i>Ae. balansae</i>)<i>, Neoolivea</i> (for <i>Olivea tectonae</i>), <i>Rogerpetersonia</i> (for <i>Caeoma torreyae</i>), and <i>Rossmanomyces</i> (for <i>Chrysomyxa monesis, Ch. pryrolae,</i> and <i>Ch. ramischiae</i>) are proposed. Twenty-one new combinations and one new name are introduced for: <i>Angiopsora apoda</i>, <i>Angiopsora chusqueae, Angiopsora paspalicola</i>, <i>Araucariomyces balansae, Araucariomyces fragiformis, Cephalotelium evansii, Cephalotelium neocaledoniense, Cephalotelium xanthophloeae, Ceropsora weirii, Gymnotelium speciosum, Lipocystis acaciae-pennatulae</i>, <i>Neoolivea tectonae, Neophysopella kraunhiae, Phakopsora pipturi, Rogerpetersonia torreyae, Rossmanomyces monesis, Rossmanomyces pryrolae, Rossmanomyces ramischiae, Thekopsora americana, Thekopsora potentillae, Thekopsora pseudoagrimoniae,</i> and <i>Zaghouania notelaeae.</i> Higher ranks are newly defined with consideration of morphology, host range and life cycle. Finally, we discuss the evolutionary and diversification trends within <i>Pucciniales</i>. <b>Citation:</b> Aime MC, McTaggart AR (2020). A higher-rank classification for rust fungi, with notes on genera. <i>Fungal Systematics and Evolution</i> <b>7:</b> 21-47. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2021.07.02.