CONTROL OF WHEAT AND BARLEY RUSTS: 2003 PROGRESS REPORT. HIGHLIGHTS OF RESEARCH PROGRESS, DEPARTMENT OF CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES, 2004

Authors: Chen, Xianming; Wood, David; Ling, Peng; PAHALAWATTA, V - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV; YAN, G - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV; PENMAN, L - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Washington State University College of Agriculture and Home Economics
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Chen, X., Wood, D.A., Ling, P., Pahalawatta, V., Yan, G.P., Penman, L. 2004. Control of wheat and barley rusts: 2003 progress report. highlights of research progress, department of crop and soil sciences, 2004. Washington State University College of Agriculture and Home Economics. 04-2:12-13.

Interpretive Summary: Rusts of wheat and barley were accurately forecasted in 2003 based on predictive models, monitoring data, and cultivar resistance. Fungicide application was implemented to control stripe rust on both winter and spring wheat crops, which prevented major losses. The stripe rust epidemic on wheat in 2003 was due to the abundant stripe rust inoculum produced on the previous spring wheat crops, susceptible winter and spring wheat cultivars, mild winter, and favorable weather in the spring. The dry weather from early June and fungicide application slowed down the disease development. High-temperature, adult-plant (HTAP) resistance to stripe rust, which is in most winter wheat and the major spring wheat and barley cultivars, continued to be the most effective and durable type of stripe rust resistance. Without HTAP resistance, the stripe rust epidemic would have been much more widely spread. More than 13,000 wheat and 6,900 barley entries were evaluated for stripe rust resistance, from which new germplasms and advanced breeding lines with stripe rust resistance were identified. The information was provided to breeding programs for developing and releasing new cultivars with adequate resistance. To more efficiently incorporate stripe rust resistance into commercial cultivars and to understand mechanisms of resistance, crosses were made to identify genes, develop molecular markers for genes, and use the markers to transfer genes for resistance. Molecular markers were identified for several genes in wheat and barley for resistance to stripe rust and other diseases. A bacterial artificial chromosomal (BAC) library was constructed for cloning rust resistance genes. BAC and cDNA libraries were constructed to initiate research on genome and functional genomics of the stripe rust pathogen. Foliar applications of Folicur, Tilt, Quadris, Quilt, Headline, and Stratego were effective for controlling stripe rust when sprayed at the right time. Profitability of fungicide application on various cultivars of wheat and barley without and with different level of stripe rust resistance was determined. Growing resistant cultivars as the primary approach and application of foliar fungicide as a supplementary method have effectively prevented major losses of yield and quality due to stripe rust in the PNW.

Technical Abstract: Rusts of wheat and barley were accurately forecasted in 2003 based on predictive models, monitoring data, and cultivar resistance. Fungicide application was implemented to control stripe rust on both winter and spring wheat crops, which prevented major losses. The stripe rust epidemic on wheat in 2003 was due to the abundant stripe rust inoculum produced on the previous spring wheat crops, susceptible winter and spring wheat cultivars, mild winter, and favorable weather in the spring. The dry weather from early June and fungicide application slowed down the disease development. High-temperature, adult-plant (HTAP) resistance to stripe rust, which is in most winter wheat and the major spring wheat and barley cultivars, continued to be the most effective and durable type of stripe rust resistance. Without HTAP resistance, the stripe rust epidemic would have been much more widely spread. More than 13,000 wheat and 6,900 barley entries were evaluated for stripe rust resistance, from which new germplasms and advanced breeding lines with stripe rust resistance were identified. The information was provided to breeding programs for developing and releasing new cultivars with adequate resistance. To more efficiently incorporate stripe rust resistance into commercial cultivars and to understand mechanisms of resistance, crosses were made to identify genes, develop molecular markers for genes, and use the markers to transfer genes for resistance. Molecular markers were identified for several genes in wheat and barley for resistance to stripe rust and other diseases. A bacterial artificial chromosomal (BAC) library was constructed for cloning rust resistance genes. BAC and cDNA libraries were constructed to initiate research on genome and functional genomics of the stripe rust pathogen. Foliar applications of Folicur, Tilt, Quadris, Quilt, Headline, and Stratego were effective for controlling stripe rust when sprayed at the right time. Profitability of fungicide application on various cultivars of wheat and barley without and with different level of stripe rust resistance was determined. Growing resistant cultivars as the primary approach and application of foliar fungicide as a supplementary method have effectively prevented major losses of yield and quality due to stripe rust in the PNW.