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Rust
Flax rust (Melampsora lini Lev.) thrives on young, vigorously growing plants. Cool, moist, weather favors rapid rust development; hot dry weather checks its spread. Rust is first observed as bright-orange pustules on the leaves and stems. Each pustule produces numerous spores that are carried by the wind to other flax plants. When weather conditions are favorable, a new crop of spores may be produced about every 10 days. Late in the season the orange pustules, especially those on the stem, enlarge and become dark brown to black. This is due to formation of the thick-walled over-wintering spores. In spring these resting spores germinate, producing small spores capable of infecting young flax plants.
In the North Central states, rust over-winters as thick-walled spores on old flax straw and stubble of the previous year. Good fall plowing that buries straw and stubble aids in controlling the disease, but the most effective control for rust is the use of resistant varieties.
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