Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae: a threat to global oat production

Authors: NAZARENO, ERIC - University Of Minnesota; LI, FENG - University Of Minnesota; MADELEINE, SMITH - University Of Minnesota; PARK, ROBERT - University Of Sydney; Kianian, Shahryar; FIGUEROA, MELANIA - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Molecular Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/28/2017
Publication Date: 12/10/2017
Citation: Nazareno, E.S., Li, F., Madeleine, S., Park, R.F., Kianian, S., Figueroa, M. 2017. Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae: a threat to global oat production. Molecular Plant Pathology. http://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.12608.

Interpretive Summary: Oat is the sixth largest cereal crop based on worldwide production and the United States is a major producer. Wholegrain oat products are attractive to consumers due to their cholesterol reducing and preservative free properties as well as high nutritional and fiber content. Unfortunately, oat crown rust, a major pathogen on oat, reduces yield, kernel weight and groat percentage in this crop having a major economic impact on growers. In this manuscript we report on the status of understanding this pathogen and breeding effort in oat.

Technical Abstract: Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae causes crown rust disease in cultivated and wild oat. The significant yield losses inflicted by this pathogen makes crown rust the most devastating disease in the oat industry. P. coronata f. sp. avenae is a basidiomycete fungus with an obligate biotrophic lifestyle and is classified as a typical macrocyclic and heteroecious fungus. The asexual phase in the life cycle of P. coronata f. sp. avenae occurs in oat while the sexual phase occurs primary in Rhamnus species (buckthorn) as the alternate host. Epidemics of crown rust occur in areas with warm temperatures (20 to 25°C) and high environmental humidity. Infection by the pathogen leads to plant lodging and shriveled grain of poor quality.