Uromycladium spp. that cause gall rusts (Acacia gall rusts).
Abstract Gall forming rust fungi of the genus Uromycladium are native to Australasia. They are invasive in New Zealand, the Philippines, East Timor, Malaysia and Indonesia. Uromycladium murphyi (as Uromycladium notabile in the literature) causes damage to Acacia decurrens grown for tannin and as an ornamental in New Zealand. Other hosts of U. murphyi are A. baileyana, A. dealbata and A. mearnsii. Uromycladium paradoxae infects Acacia paradoxa in New Zealand. Uromycladium species have been found in New Zealand on A. ulicifolia and A. verticillata, but the taxa on these two hosts is uncertain and await phylogenetic studies. Uromycladium falcatariae causes serious disease in Falcataria moluccana in Southeast Asia. This tree is grown as a shade tree in coffee plantations, for timber and pulp, and for other uses. Uromycladium morrisii and U. woodii were deliberately introduced into South Africa for the biological control of Acacia saligna and Paraserianthes lophantha, respectively.