[6] The most common place to find these spores is on the plant leaf, but they can develop on husks, tassels, and stalks as well.

In comparison, the other common type of maize rust is southern corn rust (Puccinia polysora) and it has a higher variety of hosts including maize, silver plumegrass, eastern gamagrass, Tripsacum lanceolatum, T. laxum, and T.

The severity of the disease depends largely on weather conditions and how many spores are carried north each season.

[7] Urediniospores infect leaves and produce more spores to create a secondary inoculum and polycyclic disease cycle.

[9] The first is partial resistance which results in fewer rust spots by reducing germination rate.

This type of resistance makes P. sorghi less severe by slowing down development of number of urediniospores.

In northern areas where the spores can't overwinter, early planting time can help avoid P. sorghi.

Younger leaves are more susceptible to infection, by planting earlier the crop will be more mature and more resilient by the time the spores arrive.