In this review, we present an historic account of the work on the diversity of fungi associated with plants of the Cerrado Biome, including an overview of the studies carried out by the research group of the Mycological Collection connected to the Herbarium UB (Universidade de Brasília), and the rust fungi in Herbarium IBI (Instituto Biológico, São Paulo). The contributions to Cerrado mycology from the early 19th century to the present days were highlighted. Illustrative maps were included to show the geographical distribution of the main fungal groups, associated with native plants of the Cerrado, belonging to the five predominant orders: Pucciniales (rust fungi), Phyllachorales (tar-spot fungi), Capnodiales (cercosporoid fungi: Family Mycosphaerellaceae), as well as Meliolales and Asterinales (black mildews).

Eight of the thirteen known species of Puccinia on Malpighiaceae were collected during our studies in Brazil. All were examined in detail, and a new name is suggested for Prospodium reticulatum and a new species, Puccinia guassuensis, is designated. A key to the eight species of Puccinia is provided. Nomenclatural notes, descriptions, and illustrations are presented for each species.