1. Introduction Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivated crops globally, playing an increasingly diverse role in global agri-food systems and food/nutrition security [1,2]. However, maize production is threatened by various diseases, with one of the major challenges being southern corn rust (SCR), an airborne disease of maize caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Puccinia polysora Underw. (P. polysora), which frequently occurs in tropical and subtropical maize growing areas.
