Accomplishments in wheat rust research in South Africa

Rust diseases, although seasonal, have been severe constraints in wheat production in South Africa for almost 300 years. Rust research gained momentum with the institution of annual surveys in the 1980s, followed by race identification, an understanding of rust epidemiology, and eventually a focused...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African Journal of Science 2020-11, Vol.116 (11-12), p.52-59
Main Authors: Pretorius, Zacharias A, Prins, Renée, Wessels, Elsabet, Bender, Cornel M, Visser, Botma, Boshoff, Willem H.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cereal crops
Collaboration
Crop production
Cultivars
Epidemiology
Genes
Germplasm
Infections
Laboratories
Momentum
New technology
Pathogens
Phenotypes
Plant breeding
Population studies
Populations
Puccinia
Resistance
Rust
Rust fungi
Surveillance
Vigilance
Virulence
Wheat
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Summary:Rust diseases, although seasonal, have been severe constraints in wheat production in South Africa for almost 300 years. Rust research gained momentum with the institution of annual surveys in the 1980s, followed by race identification, an understanding of rust epidemiology, and eventually a focused collaboration amongst pathologists, breeders and geneticists. Diversity in South African populations of Puccinia triticina, P. graminis f. sp. tritici and P. striiformis f. sp. tritici has been described and isolates are available to accurately phenotype wheat germplasm and study pathogen populations at national, regional and global levels. Sources of resistance have been, and still are, methodically analysed and molecular marker systems were developed to incorporate, stack and verify complex resistance gene combinations in breeding lines and cultivars. Vigilance, capacity, new technologies, collaboration and sustained funding are critical for maintaining and improving the current research impetus for future management of these impor tant diseases.
ISSN:0038-2353
1996-7489
DOI:10.17159/sajs.2020/7688