Rust is a fungi infection that cannot be adequately detected on
contaminated plants since they show no symptoms of the infection.
It has the ability to negatively affect production of many crops,
including flowers, foliage and wheat. Rust spores lodge in the
crown of plants that have had foliage removed and spread to
disease-free plants very quickly.
Prevention and Control
Quarantine restrictions and eradication efforts are enforced to
manage rust outbreaks and minimize potential disease loss during
transportation from one place to another.
Affected Plants
Rust fungi attacks plants including deciduous and evergreen trees,
shrubs, cut flowers, foliage and flowering potted plants such as
geraniums, chrysanthemums, daylilies and gladiolus.
Damage
Rust fungi does not immediately kill the infected plants, but the
infection of the rust will reduce plant health and prevent flower
production.
Predator Insects
There aren't any known natural predators to consume rust.
Natural Insecticides
The simplest natural way to stop the disease from spreading is to
remove the infected areas from the plant.
Other Methods of Control
A DNA marker has been developed that is effective in flagging the
presence of prime components which provide resistance against
different species and strains of rust. This enables breeders to
track the presence of this rust resistance through a simple DNA
test.
