Species composition and distribution of rust fungi in Zailisky Alatau (Kazakhstan)

Mycobiota of the Zailisky Alatau includes 176 species of rust fungi, the Microbotryomycetes class has 5 species, the Pucciniomycetes class is represented with 171 species. The largest number of species is characteristic of the genera Puccinia (98 species) and Uromyces (24 species). Others genera are represented with 1-13 species. The greatest number of species of rust fungi is noted for altitudes of 1700-1900 and 1900-2100 m above sea level, what correlates with the vegetation zone of dark coniferous forests and meadows. Great aridity does not allow fungi to develop intensively in the lower foothills and steppe zone, and low temperatures and intense solar insolation inhibit the development of rust fungi in the alpine and subalpine zones. 337 plant species from 165 genera are registered as host plants. The largest number of rust fungi species is noted in the Small and Big Almaty gorges (73 and 57 species, respectively), in the Talgar and Turgen gorges (57 and 63 species, respectively). The gorges of Karakastek, Ush-Konyr, Uzyn-Kargaly, Chemolgan, Small Kemin and Oi-Karagai are characterized by an insignificant diversity of rust fungi (from 3 to 8 species), which is associated with lower humidity of these gorges.