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Pustula helianthicola (white blister rust of sunflower )
Pustula helianthicola
white blister rust of sunflower
Albugo tragopogonis, Albugo tragopogonis var. helianthi, Pustula trogopogonis
Europe: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine; North America: USA; Oceania: Australia; South America: Argentina, Uruguay,
CO, KS, NE, WI, IL, MO
2025-09-29
fungus
China
Main: sunflower
PUSTHE
Pustula helianthicola, which causes sunflower white blister rust, spreads mainly through seedborne oospores that can initiate infections in new crops. During the growing season, it also produces sporangia and zoospores that cause secondary infections. This allows the disease to persist and spread both within and between growing seasons.
1 Known Hosts
Helianthus annuus
sunflower
Yes
PUSTHE-1, PUSTHE-2, PUSTHE-3, PUSTHE-4, PUSTHE-5, PUSTHE-6
Oospores primarily embedded in achenes. These oospores transmitted to seedlings in controlled experiments.
Yes
Visual examination
Test used for research purposes only. Test has not been validated or standardized.
PUSTHE-3
biological, chemical
Metalaxyl or mefenoxam fungicides. Resistant varieites are available
PUSTHE-2
2025-09-29 14:07:28
PUSTHE-1
Gulya, T.J., Viranyi, F., Appel, J., Jardine, D.J., Schwartz, H.F., and Meyer, J. 2002. First report of Albugo tragopogonis on cultivated sunflower in North America. Pl. Dis. 86: 559.
PUSTHE-2
Jardine DJ, and Kloppers R, 2015. White Rust. pg. 26-28. In, Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests. pg. eds.; Robert M. Harveson, Samuel G. Markell, Charles C. Block, and Thomas J. Gulya. APS Press St. Paul, MN.
PUSTHE-3
Viljoen, A., van Wyk, P. S., and Joost, W. J. 1999. Occurrence of the white rust pathogen, Albugo tragopogonis, in seed of sunflower. Plant Dis. 83:77.
PUSTHE-4
Lava SS, Heller A, Spring O. 2013. Oospores of Pustula helianthicola in sunflower seeds and their role in the epidemiology of white blister rust. IMA Fungus; 4(2):251-258.
PUSTHE-5
Lava, S. S., & Spring, O. (2012). Homothallic sexual reproduction of Pustula helianthicola and germination of oospores. Fungal biology, 116(9), 976-984.
PUSTHE-6
Spring, O., & Lava, S. S. The biology and epidemiology of sunflower white blister rust, Pustula helianthicola.
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