Diseases

Common Rust of Maize

Zea mays L. subsp. mays (Maize Group)

A fungal disease of maize caused by the basidiomycete Puccinia sorghi. It manifests as brown uredinia that disrupt photosynthesis and cause grain shriveling.

In the reference 29 varieties crop Maize, where this is mentioned in the description.

The causative agent of the disease is the heteroecious basidiomycete Puccinia sorghi Schweinitz, which completes its sexual cycle on Oxalis and develops uredinial and telial stages directly on maize. In crops, infection occurs primarily via urediniospores, which are spread by wind or persist on crop residues.

Symptoms appear mainly in the second half of the growing season, starting from the tasseling stage. Small light-yellow spots form on leaves and stalks, transforming into elongated brown uredinia 1–3 mm in size. When the epidermis ruptures, a mass of spores is released, and by the end of the growing season, the pustules darken, turning black-brown due to the formation of teliosori.

Severe infection leads to premature drying of the leaf canopy, which critically limits photosynthesis. This results in reduced grain weight and poorly developed ears, negatively affecting the overall yield of the crops.

General information about the subject — on the page Rust.

Sources8

Varieties of Maize mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.