Impact of Myrtle Rust on Myrtaceae Ecosystems
Summary
Myrtle rust, caused by the fungal pathogen Austropuccinia psidii, has emerged as a critical threat to ecosystems rich in Myrtaceae across tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. The disease infects new growth of hundreds of species within this plant family, leading to defoliation, shoot dieback, reduced reproductive output and, in severe cases, tree mortality. Loss of Myrtaceae alters forest structure, disrupts successional trajectories and undermines ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, soil stabilisation and cultural value. In fragmented or edge‐dominated landscapes, disease severity can vary with microclimatic conditions, accelerating host decline. The combined impact of invasive pathogen spread, host susceptibility and limited large‐scale control measures necessitates integrated management strategies that span early detection, host resistance breeding, targeted mitigation and restoration of functional diversity to sustain Myrtaceae-dominated communities globally.
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Impact of Myrtle Rust on Myrtaceae Ecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in impact of myrtle rust on myrtaceae ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Myrtaceae: A family of flowering plants including eucalyptus, tea‐tree and pōhutukawa, many of which dominate Southern Hemisphere forests.
Austropuccinia psidii: The invasive biotrophic fungus responsible for myrtle rust, infecting young tissues of Myrtaceae.
Uredinia: Spore-producing structures of rust fungi, visible as pustules on infected leaves and shoots.
Edge effects: Variations in environmental conditions and disease severity occurring at the boundary between forest interior and open habitats.
Compensatory infilling: The process by which non-Myrtaceae species assume ecological roles vacated by dying hosts, potentially moderating functional loss.
Epicuticular wax: A chemical and physical barrier on leaf surfaces that can influence pathogen germination and early infection events.
References
- Environmental drivers of spatial variation in myrtle rust development on a critically endangered tree species. Biological Conservation (2025).
- A Functional Assessment of Community Vulnerability to the Loss of Myrtaceae From Myrtle Rust. Diversity and Distributions (2024).
- Morphoanatomical Changes in Eucalyptus grandis Leaves Associated with Resistance to Austropuccinia psidii in Plants of Two Ages. Plants (2023).
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