Plant Pathogenic Fungi

Fungi have developed a plethora of strategies to colonize plants, and these interactions result in a broad spectrum of outcomes ranging from beneficial interactions to death of the host. With respect to plant pathogens, fungi represent probably the most diverse group of ecologically and economically relevant threats. Fungal plant pathogen species are primarily in the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Among ascomycetes, plant pathogens are in various classes such as the Dothideomycetes (e.g., Cladosporium spp.), Sordariomycetes (e.g., Magnaporthe spp.), or the Leotiomycetes (e.g., Botrytis spp.). Basidiomycetes are represented by the two largest plant pathogen groups: the rusts (Pucciniomycetes) and the smuts (spread among the subphylum of Ustilaginomycotina).