Rust diseases of wheat: concepts and methods of disease management

Abstract

Roelfs, A.P., R.P. Singh, and E.E. Saari. 1992. Rust Diseases of Wheat: Concepts and methods of disease management. Mexico, D.F.: CIMMYT. 81 pages. The rust diseases of wheat are among the most studied of the plant diseases. Since Tozzetti and Fontana in 1767, there has been almost an endless list of scientific publications concerning the rust pathogens, the rust diseases, and rust resistance. This publication reviews some of the more recent scientific literature concerning the pathogens Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici, P. graminis f.sp. tritici, and P. striiformis f.sp. tritici; the diseases leaf rust, stem rust, and stripe rust; and the resistance to the pathogens. The goal is to provide a single source of information for isolated scientists and new students. Abrief history and general description of the wheat rusts are followed by adetailed summary of each of the rust diseases, their epidemiology, their hosts (including resistance), and their pathogens (including virulences). Methods for disease control through resistance, chemicals, and cultural methods are discussed. Techniques are presented for inoculum production, collection, and storage; inoculation methods; disease scoring; testing for resistance; epidemiology, yield loss, and physiologic race studies; isolation of resistance genes; and utilization of resistance.