Diseases caused by rust fungi represent critical constraints to global plant production. A characteristic feature of rust pathogens is the striking pigments they produce in one or more spore forms, which give them a rusty appearance. Here, we review the literature published to date on the extraction, separation, quantification and characterisation of carotenoid pigments in rust fungi. These pigments are thought to protect rust fungi against UV radiation and oxidative stress, and possibly act as virulence factors. The yellow-orange colour of some rust species is due to carotenoid pigments. Four carotenoids have been found in rust fungi: phytoene, lycopene, γ-carotene and β-carotene, but their relative contributions to biological functions are largely unknown. Different pre-processes and storage of spore materials, as well as different extraction processes, have been applied in a wide range of investigations on rust spore pigments. We find that the value of the current literature on rust carotenoids for taxonomic diagnostics in understanding the evolution of pigment biosynthesis and in assessing their role in pathogenesis is limited. Re-investigation of rust carotenoid composition using modern analytical technologies is therefore critical to further these fields of research. Our review includes detailed guidance on choice of techniques for rust carotenoid experimental analyses.

由锈菌引起的疾病是全球植物生产的关键制约因素。锈病病原体的特征是产生的一种或多种孢子形式的引人注目的色素，使它们看起来呈锈色。在这里，我们回顾迄今为止出版的有关锈菌中类胡萝卜素色素的提取，分离，定量和表征的文献。这些颜料被认为可以保护铁锈真菌免受紫外线辐射和氧化应激的影响，并可能充当致病因子。一些锈蚀物种的橙黄色是由于类胡萝卜素颜料引起的。在锈菌中发现了四种类胡萝卜素：八氢番茄红素，番茄红素，γ-胡萝卜素和β-胡萝卜素，但它们对生物学功能的相对贡献尚不清楚。孢子材料的不同预处理和存储，以及不同的提取工艺，已被广泛用于锈孢子颜料的研究。我们发现，目前有关锈病类胡萝卜素的文献对于分类学诊断在理解色素生物合成的演变以及评估其在发病机理中的作用方面的价值是有限的。因此，使用现代分析技术对铁锈类胡萝卜素成分进行重新研究对于进一步研究这些领域至关重要。我们的综述包括有关防锈类胡萝卜素实验分析技术选择的详细指南。我们发现，目前有关锈病类胡萝卜素的文献对于分类学诊断在理解色素生物合成的演变以及评估其在发病机理中的作用方面的价值是有限的。因此，使用现代分析技术对铁锈类胡萝卜素成分进行重新研究对于进一步研究这些领域至关重要。我们的综述包括有关防锈类胡萝卜素实验分析技术选择的详细指南。我们发现，目前有关锈病类胡萝卜素的文献对于分类学诊断在理解色素生物合成的演变以及评估其在发病机理中的作用方面的价值是有限的。因此，使用现代分析技术对铁锈类胡萝卜素成分进行重新研究对于进一步研究这些领域至关重要。我们的综述包括有关防锈类胡萝卜素实验分析技术选择的详细指南。