Characterization and comparative analysis of the genome of Puccinia sorghi Schwein, the causal agent of maize common rust.

•A 99.6Mb draft genome of Puccinia sorghi, causal of maize rust, was achieved.•Transposable elements (TEs) account for nearly 33% of the assembled genome.•Extensive microsynteny was observed with Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici.•21,087 proteins were annotated, including 1599 putatively secreted.•Expanded families of hypothetical proteins without assigned function were observed.