Epiphytotic development of the rust fungus Pucciniastrum symphyti was recorded in May 2016 near Myropil town (Zhytomyr Region, Romaniv District, Ukraine) on Symphytum cordatum. In Ukraine P. symphyti was reported on S. cordatum, S. officinale, and only once on S. microcalyx. Most records are confined to the west of the country and the dates of collections generally vary from late spring to early summer. We found P. symphyti at the easternmost edge of the range of S. cordatum. Despite a wide distribution of S. officinale throughout the country, P. symphyti was not recorded in Ukraine on this species for more than 80 years. Hitherto, the fungus was reported for Europe, the Caucasus and Asia Minor. Due to systemic infection, P. symphyti can overwinter in rhizomes of comfrey and therefore does not need aecial host plants for its reproduction. However, the general range of P. symphyti does not follow the geographical pattern of the Symphytum species richness, since there are only few its records in the diversity centre of this genus, but mainly reflects the distribution of its aecial host, Abies alba. The article is illustrated by original micrographs.

Keywords: distribution, morphology, rust fungi, Symphytum cordatum

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