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What Does Myrtle Rust Look Like?

Myrtle rust attacks young, soft, actively growing leaves, shoot tips and young stems, as well as fruits and flower parts of susceptible plants.

The first signs of myrtle rust infection are tiny raised spots that are brown to grey, often with red-purple haloes. Up to 14 days after infection, the spots produce masses of distinctive yellow/orange spores.

Severe rust disease in young trees may kill shoot tips, causing loss of leaders and a bushy habit.

The images below show symptoms of myrtle rust infection on a range of Myrtaceae family plants

Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust
Click on the image to view a larger version		 Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust
Click on the image to view a larger version
Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust
Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust
Click on the image to view a larger version		 Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust
Click on the image to view a larger version
Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust Callistemon ‘Harkness’ bottlebrush infested with myrtle rust
Symptoms of myrtle rust on midgen berry
Click on the image to view a larger version		 Symptoms of myrtle rust on midgen berry
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Symptoms of myrtle rust on midgen berry (Austromyrtus dulcis) Symptoms of myrtle rust on midgen berry (Austromyrtus dulcis)
Geraldton-wax-Chamelaucium-uncinatum-img1
Click on the image to view a larger version		 Geraldton wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum) infested with myrtle rust
Click on the image to view a larger version
Geraldton wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum) infested with myrtle rust Geraldton wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum) infested with myrtle rust
Myrtle rust on strawberry gum (Eucalyptus olida)
Click on the image to view a larger version		 Myrtle rust on strawberry gum (Eucalyptus olida)
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Myrtle rust on strawberry gum (Eucalyptus olida) Myrtle rust on strawberry gum (Eucalyptus olida)
Myrtle rust on strawberry gum
Click on the image to view a larger version		 Myrtle rust symptoms on Fiji Christmas bush. It looks like the middle of the leaf has been burnt away.

Myrtle rust on strawberry gum (Eucalyptus olida)

 Myrtle rust symptoms on Fiji Christmas bush (Metrosideros collina)
Myrtle rust spores on lemon-scented myrtle. The leaves look like they have yellow coloured rust on them. Myrtle rust spores on lemon-scented myrtle
Click on the image to view a larger version
Myrtle rust spores on lemon-scented myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) Myrtle rust spores on lemon-scented myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)
Photograph of Myrtus communis affected by myrtle rust
Photograph of Myrtus communis affected by myrtle rust
Common myrtle (Myrtus communis) affected by myrtle rust Common myrtle (Myrtus communis) affected by myrtle rust
Photograph of yellow Myrtle rust spores on lophomyrtus Black Stallion
 Photograph of dark grey Myrtle rust symptoms on lophomyrtus Black Stallion
Myrtle rust spores on lophomyrtus Black Stallion
 Myrtle rust spores on lophomyrtus Black Stallion
Photograph of yellow Myrtle rust symptoms on Syzygium lilly pilly
 Photograph of Syzygium lilly pilly affected by myrtle rust, brown colour
Myrtle rust symptoms on Syzygium lilly pilly
 Syzygium lilly pilly affected by myrtle rust
Photograph of yellow Myrtle rust spores on Acmena lilly pilly
 Photograph of yellow Myrtle rust spores on Agonis flexuosa After Dark
Myrtle rust spores on Acmena lilly pilly
 Myrtle rust spores on Agonis flexuosa After Dark
Photograph of yellow Myrtle rust on willow myrtle Photograph of yellow and brown Myrtle rust spores on turpentine

Myrtle rust on willow myrtle (Agonis flexuosa). Photo Dr Angus Carnegie © I&I NSW

Newly formed bright yellow myrtle rust spores on turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera). Photo courtesy NSW I&I
Photograph of brown, rust coloured older myrtle rust infection on turpentine Photograph of brown older myrtle rust lesions on mountain ash

Older myrtle rust infection on turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera). Note older lesions can be dull yellow/brown - ash in colour and spore masses may have disappeared.
Photo courtesy NSW I&I

Older myrtle rust lesions on mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans), caused by inoculation under controlled conditions. Note a few spores are still visible with a 10x hand lens. Photo courtesy Dr Louise Morin CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences.
Photograph of yellow myrtle rust spores on beach cherry fruit Photograph of yellow myrtle rust spores on iron malletwood

Yellow myrtle rust spores appearing on the fruit of beach cherry (Eugenia reinwardtiana).
Photo courtesy of Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

Yellow myrtle rust spores appearing on the immature fruit and flower of iron malletwood (Rhodamnia sessiliflora). Photo courtesy of Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.
Photograph of tiny yellow Myrtle rust spores on blue gum Photograph of brown Myrtle rust lesions on messmate

Myrtle rust spores on the upper surface of the leaf of blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus ssp globulus), caused by inoculation under controlled conditions. Note the small size of the lesions. Photo courtesy Dr Louise Morin CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences.

Myrtle rust lesions* on messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua), caused by inoculation under controlled conditions. Note merged lesions and leaf necrosis.
Photo courtesy Dr Louise Morin CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences.