Tar spot of corn has been a major foliar disease in several Latin American countries since 1904. In 2015, tar spot was first documented in the United States and has led to significant yield losses of approximately 4.5 million t. Tar spot is caused by an obligate pathogen, Phyllachora maydis, and thus requires a living host to grow and reproduce. Due to its obligate nature, biological and epidemiological studies are limited and impact of disease in corn production has been understudied. Here we present the current literature and gaps in knowledge of tar spot of corn in the Americas, its etiology, distribution, impact and known management strategies as a resource for understanding the pathosystem. This will in tern guide current and future research and aid in the development of effective management strategies for this disease.

自1904年以来，玉米焦油斑是若干拉丁美洲国家的主要叶面疾病。2015年，焦油斑在美国首次得到记录，并导致大约450万吨的重大减产。焦油斑是由专性病原菌Phyllachora maydis引起的，因此需要活着的宿主成长和繁殖。由于其专有性，生物学和流行病学研究受到限制，并且疾病对玉米生产的影响尚未得到研究。在这里，我们介绍了当前的文献和美洲玉米焦油斑知识，其病因，分布，影响以及已知的管理策略方面的空白，作为了解病原系统的资源。这将指导当前和将来的研究，并帮助制定有效的治疗方法。