GENERALIDADES DE LOS UREDINALES(Fungi: Basidiomycota) Y DE SUS RELACIONES FILOGENéTICAS

rust fungi (uredinales, basidiomycetes) are one of the most diverse and economically important plant pathogens of crops world-wide. they are obligated parasites and have a close evolutionary relationship with their plant hosts. taxonomy of this group has been based on morphological treats, resulting in generation of polyphyletic taxa. recently, different studies have incorporated molecular techniques addressed to establishing evolutionary affinities between these fungi. this review presents a general view of the biological characteristics of rust fungi, with a detailed discussion on the phylogenetic studies regarding the group. finally, the review proposes the necessity to establish phylogenetic studies on rust fungi from the neotropics, where these fungi present a very high diversity and unique life cycles.