The order Urocystales is a group of fungi within the phylum Basidiomycota, primarily known for comprising plant-parasitic smut fungi. Members of this order are typically obligate pathogens, infecting the roots, stems, or leaves of a wide variety of host plants, often causing disease symptoms such as galls, smuts, or systemic infections. Urocystales species exhibit a complex life cycle that includes both sexual and asexual stages, often involving the formation of teliospores that serve as resting and dispersal structures. Ecologically, they play a role in regulating plant populations and influencing agricultural systems, as several species are economically significant due to their impact on crops such as cereals and grasses. Morphologically, these fungi are characterized by specialized hyphal structures and spore-producing sori, which differentiate them from other basidiomycetes.