Smut fungi of New Zealand: An introduction, and list of recorded species

Abstract

An overview of the smut fungi (Basidiomycota) is presented as an introduction to wards a new smut mycoflora for New Zealand. Many of the New Zealand smuts have undergone taxonomic re-evaluation in the last two or three years. All species recorded from New Zealand are listed, together with details on their host plants, a reference to the fiist New Zealand record of each unique smuthost combination, and a separate alpha betical list of host plants and the smut fungi that parasitise them. A total of 94 smut species are re corded from New Zealand, distributed within 24 genera. Most smuts (60%) are introduced. There are few examples of introduced species attacking native host plants, or of indigenous smuts parasitising ex otic hosts. Six smut species are recorded in New Zea land for the first time, and 12 new host records are listed for smut fungi previously recorded in New Zealand. The endemic smut fungus Sorosporium neillii is better accommodated in the genus Tolyposporium and the appropriate recombination is made. © 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.