7.02.05 – Rusts of forest trees

Our Working Party aims to bring together scientists and investigators working on tree rusts. Our goal is to foster scientific discussion and exchanges relating to tree rust epidemiology, biology, host-pathogen interactions, resistance, control and management, and genomics. Our working group meets approximately once every 4 years in locations in Europe, North America or Asia. We usually meet in locations that allow us to discuss our scientific findings and have field trips in a friendly and relaxed environment which is conducive to exchanges and debates. We want to place a strong emphasis on participation of young investigators and students, as these meetings provide unique experiences to meet and exchange with the related community.

This Working Proup has always had a strong component related to taxonomy, epidemiology, biology, and resistance of rust. This working group has been traditionally strongly attended by the pine rusts community, but has recently become much broader, with sessions on rusts of angiosperms as well as other conifers. In the last two meetings, there was strong representation of groups working on genomics of rusts and rust interaction with their host. With the recent completion of the genome sequence of the poplar rust (Melampsora larici-populina) and the future sequencing of fusiform rust (Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme), we expect this trend to become even stronger. The integration of genomics, epidemiology, taxonomy, host-pathogen interaction and breeding is most likely the trend of the future.