- Worldwide distribution. On peanuts, and other plants belonging to the genus Arachis. An important disease.
- Rust infects all parts of peanuts above ground: the red-brown spots produce masses of spores. Losses in pod yields of 40%.
- Spores spread in wind; infection needs water on plant surfaces, and high humidity.
- Cultural control: avoid planting next to old crops; leave at least 4 weeks between crops – rusts do not survive in plant debris or the soil; remove “volunteers”; inspect twice weekly; tolerant varieties.
- Chemical control: begin to spray as soon as spots are seen and no later than 30-35 days; use chlorothalonil (also effective against leaf spots) at 10-14 days until 14 days before harvest.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Peanut rust (034)
Peanut rust
Puccinia arachidis
AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from DAF (2018) Rust. Queensland Government. (https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/plants/crops-pastures/broadacre-field-crops/managing-peanut-diseases/rust); and CABI (undated) Ground leaf rust Puccinia arachidis. Plantwise Knowledge Bank. (https://www.plantwise.org/knowledgebank/datasheet/45745#DistributionSection); and from Korus KA, Dufault N (undated) Peanut rust fungus: Puccina arachidis Speg. UF/IFAS Extension (https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/alachua/word/images/pdf/Peanut-Rust.pdf). Photo 4 McKenzie E (2013) Puccinia arachidis PaDIL - (http://www.padil.gov.au).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.