The rust flora of Sino-Himalayan forests

Abstract

From 1975–1980, an investigation of rusts of the Sino-Himalayan flora was undertaken by an interdisciplinary research team of the Academia Sinica. The Sino-Himalayan plateau (Xizang) is a varied and unique physicogeographical region with combined effects of high altitude, vast expanse, and latitudinal position. A special category of montane (1000–6000 m) and its forest rust flora is proposed. This preliminary study of the hosts and their rusts includes 110 species and 26 genera in five families of rusts. According to biogeographical and ecological analysis, the Sino-Himalayan rust flora can be characterized as north temperate. This flora is classified into three zones: (i) the plateau zone; (ii) the temperate zone; and (iii) the subtropical zone. A distinct group of rust genera and species is found in each zone. The main genera and species recognized as Sino-Himalayan are also cosmopolitan in north temperate plateau regions. Sino-Himalaya rust flora mainly is a branch of East Asia flora and has close relationships with adjacent flora as well as with North American flora. This flora constitutes a potential source of rust diseases for forests in this and other regions.