Accomplishments in wheat rust research in South Africa
Date
2020-11-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ASSAf
Abstract
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 important diseases.
Description
CITATION: Pretorius, Z. A. et al. 2020. Accomplishments in wheat rust research in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 116(11/12),:7688, doi:10.17159/sajs.2020/7688.
The original publication is available at https://sajs.co.za
The original publication is available at https://sajs.co.za
Keywords
Puccinia, Wheat rusts -- Disease and pest resistance -- South Africa, Resistance of plants to disease, Leaf rust of wheat -- Genetic aspects
Citation
Pretorius, Z. A. et al. 2020. Accomplishments in wheat rust research in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 116(11/12),:7688, doi:10.17159/sajs.2020/7688.