First report of Puccinia thaliae on canna lily in New Zealand and in some Pacific island countries

A rust disease was observed on leaves of a cultivated canna lily plant in Auckland, New Zealand in February 2012. Samples were collected and the causal agent determined by morphological and molecular techniques as Puccinia thaliae. This is the first record of P. thaliae in New Zealand. The rust is also reported for the first time from several countries in the Pacific islands.