Rust (fungus) an autoecious fungus which can complete its life cycle on a single host species. Understanding the life cycles of rust fungi allows for proper disease management. There are definite patterns of relationship with host plant groups and the rust fungi that parasitize them. Some genera of rust fungi, especially "Puccinia" and "Uromyces", comprise species that are capable of parasitizing plants of many families. Other rust genera appear to be restricted to certain plant groups. Host restriction may, in heteroecious species, apply to both phases of life cycle or to only one phase. The fungi produce asexual spores which disperse by
Stem rust the end of the growing season black telia are produced. For this reason stem rust is also known as 'black rust'. The telia are firmly attached to the plant tissue. The site of infection is a visible symptom of the disease. Pycnia appear on barberry plants in the spring, usually in the upper leaf surfaces. They are often in small clusters and exude pycniospores in a sticky honeydew. Five to ten days later, cup-shaped structures filled with orange-yellow, powdery aeciospores break through the lower leaf surface. The aecial cups are yellow and sometimes elongate to extend up to 5 mm