Albugo Candida Pathogen

Albugo candida, known as white rust or white blister rust, is currently infecting Brassicaceae species as an obligate plant pathogen in the family Albuginaceae. This white fungus-like organism is attacking various crucifers, often causing serious deformities and damage to the plants. The visual signs include a crusty white coating, which consists of thousands of spore capsules that are bursting through the plant's epidermis. This infection may lead to thickening and distortion of the stem, leaves, and fruits. Albugo candida has a cosmopolitan distribution and is present in many countries where cruciferous crops are grown, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, and the Americas. The pathogen is infecting plants in the Brassicaceae family at various growth stages, such as the seedling stage, the growing stage, the flowering stage, and the fruiting stage. It has been recorded on almost all varieties and species of the rapeseed-mustard group of crops as well as many wild brassicas. A mustard seed is drying up due to the Albugo candida pathogen in Kaliganj, West Bengal, India, on January 17, 2024. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)