Symptoms:

• Minute flecks are appeared on both sides of leaves.
• Circular to elongate cinnamon brown, powdery, erumpent pustules on both leaf surfaces
• As the crop matures brownish black pustules develop
• In severe cases infection spreads to sheath and other parts

Pathogen:

• Puccinia sorghi is a heteroceious rust.
• Uredospores single celled, echinulate, yellowish brown, pedicellate, elliptical
• Teliospores reddish or brown in colour, two celled, rounded at the apex
• Alternate hosts - Oxalis europea, O. corniculata and O. stricta
• Basidiospores infect Oxalis corniculata, where pycnial and aecial stages occur
• Aeciospores carried by wind and infect maize

Favourable condition:

• Cool, warm and moist weather (15 - 25 o C)

Survival and Mode of Spread:

• Primary spread through alternate hosts
• Secondary spread through wind borne uredospores

Management:

• Remove the alternate hosts .
• Collect the remains of the crop and destroy by burning or burying
• Foliar spray of kresoxim-methyl 44.3% SC @ 1 ml/l or tebuconazole @ 1ml/l orchlorothalonil or mancozeb 2 ml/l at 35 and 50 DAS

Brown pustules on leaf