What Causes Rust Disease on Plants? and How to Treat Them?

Tony O'Neill( Expert Gardener, Best Selling Author. )

Tony O’Neill, expert gardener and best-selling author of the famous “Simplify Vegetable Gardening,” “Composting Masterclass,” and “Your First Vegetable Garden,” combines lifelong passion and expert knowledge to simplify gardening. His mission? Helping you cultivate a thriving garden. More on Tony O’Neill

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What causes rust disease in plants? A fungal parasite causes rust disease. This parasite spreads through the host plant destroying its cells from within. It is more prevalent in humid, warm conditions. It will spread via spores carried on the wind from infected to uninfected plants. Poor garden husbandry can make this situation worse.

The rust fungus is a pathogen that relies on the host body to fulfill its needs. A rust infection can be a big headache and complicated to eliminate.

More importantly, severe infections can lead to lethal plant deformities, including witch’s broom, galls, and hypertrophy. Thus, gardening experts worldwide recommend taking proper preventive measures regularly to keep this fungus in check, not allowing it any time or optimal conditions to grow.

In this article, we will discuss everything plant lovers must know about the rust fungus — its lifecycle, symptoms, and treatment. So, if you have experienced a rust infection or are currently dealing with one, read on.

Table of Contents

What is rust?

Rust is one of the most harmful and dangerous pathogens and is, thus, rightly considered a menace to your garden. A plant disease that is known to attack white pine, soybean, wheat, coffee, snapdragons, beans, tomatoes, roses, leeks, and various other plants. Rust is caused by more than 4,000 species of fungi and fungus-like organisms that affect over 5000 species of plants.

The fungus is called rust fungus, which most commonly leads to brown spores on plant surfaces. However, in some cases, the infection caused by rust may manifest as red, orange, yellow, black, or brown spots. Initially, the spots caused by the Rust fungus appear as white-raised spots, turning into reddish-orange or brownish spore masses.

If left untreated, these spores eventually become black, infecting the entire leaf and causing it to wither and fall. Rust affects only living plants, and the infection limits itself to plant parts, such as leaves, stems, tender shoots, fruits, etc. Further, different types of rust species are named after the plant they infect. For instance, the white pine blister rust gets its name from the plant species it affects, i.e., white pine.

Similarly, the rust fungi that affect coffee is called Coffee Rust, and the fungi species that affect cedar apple is called Cedar Apple rust. The rust fungus has a complicated life cycle; within a single life cycle, it can infect two different plant hosts.

What conditions does rust require to grow

High light intensity, high moisture, and high temperatures are some of the factors that promote rust growth. Therefore, the best way to keep this fungus away from your gardens is to ensure it does not get the optimal conditions it needs to grow.

A rust infection begins when a rust spore lands on the surface of a plant, germinates and infects the host plant. The condition causes the plant to appear yellow and stunted in growth. Since rust grows intracellularly, the more severe infection cases manifest in rust-fruiting bodies.

A rust infection can turn out to be lethal to plants’ health. Severe conditions can lead to proper plant deformities, such as witch’s broom, galls, stem canker, and hypertrophy.

How does a rust infection spread?

To protect plants against rust infections adequately, gardeners must first understand how a rust infection spreads in the first place.

The rust fungus usually spreads through the wind, water, or insects. When a rust spore lands on a susceptible plant, it begins infection by producing a short hypha called the germ tube. This tube locates one of the many minute pores present on the epidermis of the leaf, which it uses to enter the plant leaf.

Once the germ tube has located a pore, it spreads the infection to the plant body by producing an infectious structure called an appressorium, through which the disease passes into the plant body. Since rust is a pathogenic fungus, it has more germ-tube-like designs once inside the plant body.

These structures contain H+-ATPases, which transport nutrients from the plant body into the fungus. The fungus continues to infect the plant until spores begin to appear on the plant’s surface. The Rust fungus repeats its process of infection after every 10-14 days and, in the process, spreads the disease to various parts of the same plant or new hosts.

How to identify a rust infection?

The symptoms of a rust infection are pretty easy to read. By regularly checking the plant leaves, gardeners can identify a rust infection in time and stop it from spreading. Though rust diseases affect a variety of plants, how the symptoms of this infection manifest themselves remains more or lesser similar in all plant species.

The fungus goes through different stages in its lifecycle and ultimately physically manifests itself as yellow, orange, and brown powdery pustules. In severe infections, the color of these blisters or bumps can also change to black or purple-brown.

If you think rust has affected your garden or plant products, you first must check for blister-like swellings or spots on the underside of the leaves. Most likely, these spots will be either yellow or orange. Similarly, rust infections manifest themselves in white or yellow spots on the top leaves of a plant.

If you have been experiencing defoliation, a rust infection could be the main reason because the leaves turn dry and fall from the plant when a rust infection spreads. In conclusion, keep an eye out for any blister-like appearances on the leaves of your plants.

What can I do to prevent rust?

The rust fungus uses air, water, and insects to spread itself and, thus, can quickly spread. It is, therefore, better to practice prevention than cure. Here are a few simple tricks to keep rust infections away from your gardens.

Rust proliferates in wet conditions. Thus, avoiding overhead watering is the best way to protect your plants from rust fungus. Instead of watering your plants using a hose, use a drip irrigation system and water only the roots.
Clean your plants early in the morning if you do not have access to a drip irrigation system. This way, the sun’s heat will make the water evaporate quickly, thereby naturally reducing any chances of rust infection by removing any excess moisture.

While planting seeds, make sure there is ample space between all your plants. If you keep your plants in pots, there should be plenty of space between every pot. Since rust uses air, water, and insects to spread itself, proper spacing reduces the chances of the infection spreading. Further, this arrangement also creates space for disease spores to fly away from the garden.

These days, hybridizers are continually working on developing rust-resistant plant varieties. If the problem of rust has plagued you and your garden before, you should invest in rust-resistant types of plants and flowers. However, always leave ample space between plants, irrespective of the plant variety you plan to cultivate.

Regarding rust prevention, sulfur is one of the most effective agents. Thus, invest some money weekly in a light sulfur spray on your plants and flowers. In case you do not have sulfur, try neem oil.
Neem oil is a natural fungicide that is very effective at controlling rust. It is also readily available in the market. Conversely, you can use baking soda and low-intensity horticultural oil to keep the rust from your garden.

Regularly prune your plants to get rid of any infection. Pruning also leads to better air circulation, reducing the chances of an infection spreading to other plants. Clean your tools when you prune your plants or rake the soil. Infected devices are one of the quickest ways diseases spread themselves.

Make sure to rake the soil before planting any seeds. Further, once you are done raking, cover the soil with mulch. The mulch does an excellent job of preventing the spores from splashing back onto the leaves.

Most rust fungus varieties are host-specific. Thus, plant rotation can easily prevent rust, although this is not always true. Process may help if you keep having problems with rust on a particular variety.

Lastly, if you already have a blooming garden, ensure you do not ruin it by getting into an infected plant. Thoroughly check every new plant for infections before you plant it in your garden.

branch for of leaves affected with rust disease

Make homemade fungicides that can deal with rust.

Rust diseases are not uncommon, and they affect a variety of plants. The disease or infection leads to the appearance of yellow, orange, and brown spots on leaves and can also lead to foliage withering and other deformities. This article discusses some prevention techniques plant lovers can use to avoid rust fungus.

One of the easiest ways to keep rust at bay is to use effective fungicides regularly. It is quite easy to find commercial fungicides these days. However, many people prefer making fungicides to tackle the problem of rust. So, here are a few simple homemade sprays you can use to control rust.

Homemade Baking Soda Fungicide
Homemade Sulfur-Based Spray
Homemade Bordeaux Spray
Homemade Aspirin Spray

Homemade Baking Soda-Based Fungicide

Many people swear by using baking soda when it comes to rust infections. However, making baking soda-based fungicides must pay special attention to proportions. The excessive amount of salt present in baking soda can prove to be toxic for plants. Mix four teaspoons of baking soda with a gallon of water to create your homemade baking soda-based fungicide.

Add about six teaspoons of any light horticultural oil to this mixture. If you do not have a horticultural oil, add one tablespoon each of baking soda, castile soap, and vegetable oil to a gallon of water. Mix well, pour this mixture into a bottle, then spray it on all the plants using a sprayer. Repeat the process every week.

Homemade Sulfur-Based Spray

Sulfur has been used as a fungicide for decades now. It is a powerful protecting agent against rust fungus. However, sulfur is used as a preventive spray, not a treatment spray. In the market, sulfur is readily available in liquid and powder forms. The packing will also guide you in creating your homemade sulfur-based spray.

However, beware, many plant species do not react well to sulfur. Thus, read the instructions and ensure the plant species you plan to use your sulfur spray won’t be negatively affected. Further, lime sulfur should never be used on foliage, and remember the best time to use this spray is right before or at the start of spring.

Homemade Bordeaux Spray

Bordeaux mixtures are effective against both fungi and bacteria. A Bordeaux mixture is essentially copper sulfate mixed with water and lime. Thus, to make your homemade Bordeaux spray, you must buy copper sulfate and hydrated lime separately, both of which are readily available online or at the garden center.

To create a homemade Bordeaux fungicide, mix three tablespoons of copper sulfate with ten tablespoons of hydrated lime and add a gallon of water. Mix well before pouring this mixture into a spray bottle and spraying on plants. Ideally, Bordeaux should be used on dormant trees and plants, i.e., during the winter season.

Homemade Aspirin Spray

An aspirin mixture is perhaps the most straightforward mixture to make at home. Mix eight aspirins with a gallon of water to create your aspirin-based fungicide. You should use the standard 325 mg aspirin tablets for this mixture. Mix well, pour the liquid into a pump sprayer, and spray it on foliage. The ideal time to use this mixture is right before spring.

Commercial Rust Infection Management

It is easy to prevent a rust infection by taking the appropriate measures. However, if, by any chance, you weren’t able to take the required preventive measures, which led to a rust infection, you must get an expert’s opinion. Once a rust infection has spread, getting rid of it can become tricky.

If not treated in time, a rust infection can ruin your plants. In the case of rust, the disease management plan for a specific rust infection depends on whether the disease is macrocyclic or demicyclic. In the case of macrocyclic conditions, the fungus has a repeating stage in its life cycle. On the other hand, in the case of demicyclic diseases, the fungus does not have a repeating background.

In the case of macrocyclic diseases, the rust fungus either infects the host plant or the alternate host plant. For instance, the fungus that infects the white pine does not contaminate the white pine but its alternate host, Ribes. Thus, removing the alternate host is the perfect way to get rid of rust disease in the case of macrocyclic conditions where the fungus infects the alternative host plant.

On the other hand, if the fungus affects the host plant, the treatment involves resisting crops. For example, the infecting fungus infects wheat itself and not the alternate host, i.e., barberry. Thus, getting rid of the alternate host is useless in the case of wheat. Experts get rid of rust infection by planting resistant crops in this case.

In the case of demicyclic diseases, since there is no repeating stage in the fungus life cycle, removing either the primary or alternate host is the only way to eliminate the infection. However, certain fungi survive even after removing the primary or alternate host. Thus, experts use special techniques based on the plant type to eliminate the rust fungus species.

If you have been dealing with a rust infection and have tried everything to make it go, but nothing has worked, it’s probably a good idea to get an expert’s opinion.

FAQs on What Causes Rust Disease on Plants? and How to Treat Them?

What causes rust disease in plants?
Rust disease in plants is caused by fungal pathogens from the order Pucciniales. These fungi thrive in humid environments, attacking plant foliage and causing characteristic orange-brown spots and discoloration. Factors like moisture, temperature, and susceptible plant species contribute to the development and spread of rust disease. Proper plant hygiene, timely pruning, and use of resistant cultivars can help manage this fungal infection.

How do you treat rust disease?
Treating rust disease involves removing infected plant parts, improving air circulation, and applying fungicides. Prune and destroy affected leaves, provide adequate spacing between plants, and ensure proper watering to avoid leaf wetness. Fungicides can be used as a preventive or curative measure, but follow instructions carefully. Maintain overall plant health through regular fertilization and minimize stress factors. Consult a local agricultural extension office for specific recommendations.

What is the best fungicide for rust on plants?
The best fungicide for rust on plants depends on the specific plant species and the severity of the infection. However, some commonly recommended fungicides for rust control include copper-based products, sulfur-based products, and systemic fungicides containing active ingredients like triazoles or strobilurins. It is important to carefully follow the instructions on the fungicide label and consider consulting with a local agricultural extension service or a professional to determine the most appropriate fungicide for your specific situation.

Conclusion

The rust fungus is widely prevalent — more than 4000 species of this fungus infect more than 5000 different varieties of plants. The good news is this fungus can easily be kept in check by following the simple preventive measures discussed in this article.

Further, gardeners must always keep an eye out for symptoms of rust infections. In case of a disease, remove or treat the infected plants immediately.

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