Puccinia
Puccinia is a genus of fungi. All species in this genus are obligate plant pathogens and are known as rusts. The genus contains about 4000 species.
The genus name of Puccinia is in honour of Tommaso Puccini, who was an Italian doctor and botanist who taught anatomy at Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence.
The genus was circumscribed by Pier Antonio Micheli in Nov. Pl. Gen. on page 213 in 1729.
Taxonomy
Examples of Puccinia rusts and the diseases they cause:Puccinia asparagi - Asparagus rustPuccinia evadens - Coyote brush rustPuccinia graminis - Stem rust, also known as black rustPuccinia horiana - Chrysanthemum white rustPuccinia mariae-wilsoniae - Spring beauty rustPuccinia poarum - Coltsfoot rust gallPuccinia psidii - Guava rust or eucalyptus rustPuccinia recondita - Brown rustPuccinia sessilis - Arum rust and Ramsons rustPuccinia striiformis - Stripe rust, also known as yellow rustPuccinia triticina - Wheat leaf rust, also known as brown rustPuccinia punctiformis - Canada thistle rustThe rust species Puccinia obtegens has shown some promise for controlling Canada thistle, but it must be used in conjunction with other control measures to be effective.
Another leaf rust species, Puccinia myrsiphylli, has been used as an effective biocontrol agent for infestations of the common form of bridal creeper in Australia since 2000.