Tracking rust diseases of wheat for better Tracking rust diseases of wheat for better production and disease managementproduction and disease management

Berhanu M. AndargeBerhanu M. AndargeGraduate StudentGraduate Student

IntroductionIntroduction• Wheat is one of the major food crop grown in the world next Wheat is one of the major food crop grown in the world next

to rice, and maize. It grows in every continent.to rice, and maize. It grows in every continent.

• In 2008-2009, 225 Million hectares of land were allocated for In 2008-2009, 225 Million hectares of land were allocated for wheat and annually 684 million tones of grain produced (FAO, wheat and annually 684 million tones of grain produced (FAO, 2010). 2010).

• Of the cultivated wheat area, half is located in less developed Of the cultivated wheat area, half is located in less developed countries (Reynolds and Borlaug, 2006).countries (Reynolds and Borlaug, 2006).

• In regions such as North Africa, Turkey, and Central Asia, In regions such as North Africa, Turkey, and Central Asia, wheat provides half of total dietary calories. wheat provides half of total dietary calories.

Into. Cont.Into. Cont.

• Yield progress have been steady increases in productivity Yield progress have been steady increases in productivity since the green revolution, since the green revolution, – due to genetic improvements in yield potential, due to genetic improvements in yield potential, resistance to resistance to

diseasesdiseases, adaptation to abiotic stresses, and better agronomic , adaptation to abiotic stresses, and better agronomic practices practices

• Yield progress has been challenged by different factors Yield progress has been challenged by different factors every year.every year.

• Of those factor Rust diseases caused by fungal pathogens Of those factor Rust diseases caused by fungal pathogens are considered to be one of the major wheat production are considered to be one of the major wheat production constraints world wide. constraints world wide.

• The most common rusts diseases are The most common rusts diseases are – Stem rustStem rust or black rust or black rust (Puccinia graminis (Puccinia graminis f. sp. f. sp. tritici)tritici), , – StripeStripe or yellow rust ( or yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis triticiPuccinia striiformis tritici) and ) and – LeafLeaf or brown rust ( or brown rust (P. reconditaP. recondita). ).

Intro. Cont.Intro. Cont.

• Though their optimum environmental conditions are slightly Though their optimum environmental conditions are slightly different, these rusts are present globally, wherever wheat is different, these rusts are present globally, wherever wheat is grown. grown.

• They are often present together in one plant, during different They are often present together in one plant, during different growth stages of wheat in different severities. growth stages of wheat in different severities.

Leaf RustStem RustStrip rust

• Since the inception of green revolution majority of Since the inception of green revolution majority of world wheat production was backed by resistance world wheat production was backed by resistance genesgenes

• Therefore, for the last 60 years no major epidemics Therefore, for the last 60 years no major epidemics was recorded world wide specially from stem rustwas recorded world wide specially from stem rust

• but in 1999 majority of the stem rust resistant but in 1999 majority of the stem rust resistant genes, served as a guard for wheat production, genes, served as a guard for wheat production, were known to be susceptible because of the were known to be susceptible because of the occurrence of new stem rust races occurrence of new stem rust races

Millions of stem rust spores multiplied in a susceptible plant and transported to other places by wind

Unique feature of rust (air born) diseasesUnique feature of rust (air born) diseases

• Rusts, especially the stem and stripe rusts are considered Rusts, especially the stem and stripe rusts are considered as the most important biotic constraint to sustainable as the most important biotic constraint to sustainable wheat production in developing countries. wheat production in developing countries.

– This is due to the ability of the pathogen to evolve This is due to the ability of the pathogen to evolve rapidly into new races and to migrate long distances by rapidly into new races and to migrate long distances by

windwind..

• The world has experienced in the 1980’s and 1990’s a series The world has experienced in the 1980’s and 1990’s a series of major epidemics of wheat yellow rust. of major epidemics of wheat yellow rust. – Unless the field is protected by resistant variety or appropriate fungicide Unless the field is protected by resistant variety or appropriate fungicide

the crop loss would be reach to 100%.the crop loss would be reach to 100%.

– healthy crop only 3 weeks from harvest could be reduced to nothing by healthy crop only 3 weeks from harvest could be reduced to nothing by stem rust.stem rust.

Picture taken from stem rust wheat Dr.

Current situation of rust Current situation of rust diseasedisease• In recent years, leaf rust, stripe rust, and stem rust have been In recent years, leaf rust, stripe rust, and stem rust have been

the most damaging fungal diseases of wheat, causing the most damaging fungal diseases of wheat, causing significant yield losses worldwide (Singh et al. 2008). significant yield losses worldwide (Singh et al. 2008).

– Of all stem rust is the most feared disease of wheat cause severe Of all stem rust is the most feared disease of wheat cause severe devastation in all continent where wheat is growing.devastation in all continent where wheat is growing.

• In 1999 high severities of stem rust were observed in Uganda In 1999 high severities of stem rust were observed in Uganda on previously stem rust resistant wheat lines on previously stem rust resistant wheat lines

• This new race, labeled “Pgt-Ug99”, subsequently shown to This new race, labeled “Pgt-Ug99”, subsequently shown to attack the stem rust resistance genes, which were previously attack the stem rust resistance genes, which were previously effective.effective.

• Since then, similar virulences have been confirmed in Since then, similar virulences have been confirmed in – Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Iran, indicating that this new race, or Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Iran, indicating that this new race, or

its derivatives, has spread within North Africa and into the Middle its derivatives, has spread within North Africa and into the Middle East. East.

Importance of tracking rust Importance of tracking rust diseasesdiseases• An integrated An integrated

– research, communication and outreach approach is needed to research, communication and outreach approach is needed to combat the threat of rust disease of wheat production. combat the threat of rust disease of wheat production.

– will guide the evaluation of wheat germplasm will guide the evaluation of wheat germplasm – help to develop diagnostic technologies and disease help to develop diagnostic technologies and disease

management systems, management systems, – accelerate the development of new resistant varieties. accelerate the development of new resistant varieties. – will also outline an effective monitoring, reporting and will also outline an effective monitoring, reporting and

communication network. Strategic deployment and use of communication network. Strategic deployment and use of these resources and technologies to minimize the impact of these resources and technologies to minimize the impact of new and emerging races of stem rust. new and emerging races of stem rust.

Application of GPS and GIS on tracking the rust Application of GPS and GIS on tracking the rust diseasesdiseases

• A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer program designed to store, manipulate, analyze, and program designed to store, manipulate, analyze, and display data in a geographic context.display data in a geographic context.

• Wheat researchers can take the advantage of sophisticated Wheat researchers can take the advantage of sophisticated computer software programs to display and analyze spatial computer software programs to display and analyze spatial data.data.

• GIS capabilities are ideal for use in infectious disease GIS capabilities are ideal for use in infectious disease surveillance and control, and in outbreak investigation and surveillance and control, and in outbreak investigation and response. Throughresponse. Through– optimize data collection and management;optimize data collection and management;– strengthen data analysis;strengthen data analysis;– strengthen outbreak infrastructure and support;strengthen outbreak infrastructure and support;

Application of GPS and GIS on tracking the rust diseases cont.Application of GPS and GIS on tracking the rust diseases cont.

– map epidemic dynamics in near real-time;map epidemic dynamics in near real-time;– Quickly plan and target response;Quickly plan and target response;– Rapidly communicate information;Rapidly communicate information;– monitor changes in disease over time;monitor changes in disease over time;– Aid emergency preparedness by mapping Aid emergency preparedness by mapping

surveillance data in near-real time for early surveillance data in near-real time for early outbreak detection.outbreak detection.

Rust Maper Rust Maper

• Can provide timely, reliable information to wheat Can provide timely, reliable information to wheat researchers and decision makers in risk countries.researchers and decision makers in risk countries.

• It was developed by the CIMMYT GIS unit in 2010 by using It was developed by the CIMMYT GIS unit in 2010 by using the popular satellite-image virtue globe “Google Earth”the popular satellite-image virtue globe “Google Earth”

• It is a program that tracks It is a program that tracks – the stem rust occurrence, the stem rust occurrence, – models, and potential dispersion paths for the pathogen and models, and potential dispersion paths for the pathogen and – summarizes information on wheat production and summarizes information on wheat production and

susceptibility for countries in stem rust pathways. susceptibility for countries in stem rust pathways.

• It displays current rust survey sites, near real-time wind It displays current rust survey sites, near real-time wind trajectories from sites reporting stem rust (all races, not trajectories from sites reporting stem rust (all races, not only Ug99), major wheat growing areas and country wheat only Ug99), major wheat growing areas and country wheat statistics.statistics.

• http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/rust/shttp://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/rust/stem/stem-rustmapper/en/tem/stem-rustmapper/en/

Thank youThank you