Rusts/Smuts

Natural Origin - Rusts/Smuts are members of the Basidiomycetes and are named because of the brown or orange color of the spores. It can grow on rotted wood or decaying cellulose. It is found on cereal crops, grasses weeds, other fungi and on other flowering plants. It is a plant parasite and is parasitic plant pathogens that require a living host for the completion of their life cycle.

Indoor Origin - Can occasionally grow indoors on rotting wood or cellulose based materials, but can be introduced through outdoor air.

Pathoginicity - Not well studied at this time, but know as a common contaminant.

Diseases - There have been no reports of human infections.

Allergen - Considered an allergen, but not well studied.

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