(New York) 7(5): 340 (1920) Puccinia melanocephala is a fungus and plant pathogen, it is the causal agent of sugarcane rust.

[3] Puccinia melanocephala can also infect other member of the family Poaceae, including some species of bamboo such as Bambusa vulgaris.

When the uredia become big enough, they break through the epidermis to form the characteristic rust pustules from which uredospores are borne.

Germinated uredospores require at least 8 hours of leaf moisture for the germ tube to penetrate the stomata and infect the plant.

[8] Sugarcane is a large, edible grass crop native to southeast Asia and many pacific island nations.

Throughout history, sugar derived from sugarcane was a luxury due to its rarity, especially in parts of Europe such as England.