Syrian Arab RepublicMinistry of Agriculture and Agrarian ReformGeneral Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research

Country PaperGeneral Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research

Climatic Changes and Yellow Rust Outbreak in Syria

Prepared by Trad Dandal& M. Walid Tawil

Aleppo, ICARDA

18-21/4/2011

Climatic Changes in Syria

Low rainfallErratic distribution of rainfall within the seasonHigh temperature in winterHeat waves during crop maturityDust storms and desertification

Consequences

Outbreak of some diseases and insectsLow productivityLow groundwater levels

The relative value of annual rainfall rate in Syria during the period 1965-2007

1965-19751975-19851985-19951995-20052005-2007

100%94%88%95%86%

The relative value of annual rainfall rate in Syria was decreased by 9% during 5 previous decades

Stresses affected wheat crop during 2009/2010

Warm winter High relative humidity Increase of temperature up to 35C in March 2010 in some ̊�

areas Infection of all bread wheat varieties with yellow rust Frost during the period of the beginning of grain filling in

some areas Cessation of rain since the beginning of March until the end

of the season Increase of temperature above 37C during the late phases ̊�

of grain filling

Stresses consequences

Quick vegetative growth at the beginning of the season

Poor tilleringOutbreak of yellow rustEarly maturity about one monthLow 1000-grain weightLow productivity of bread wheat in particular

Climatic Factors / Aleppo – Serbaya Station

Temp. C⁰Dec.Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.MayJun.Monthly

rate

2006-20073.94.39.111.013.923.427.513.3

2007-20086.23.06.914.321.524.531.115.3

2008-20096.35.78.810.916.121.428.213.9

2009-201010.49.311.713.315.422.326.815.6

Rainfall/mmDec.Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.MayTotal

2006-200784429302330.2164

2007-2008724102308.5144

2008-200943388636254232

2009-20107154587160206

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Climatic changes in Serbaya station of Aleppo province during five previous years were:

1. Increasing the monthly rate of temperature (C) during December, January and February months.

2. Increasing the monthly rate of rainfall (mm) during December, January and February months

Sunshine hr/dayDec.Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.MayJun.

2006-20077.45.25.35.18.49.113.2

2007-20084.96.06.17.38.411.212.8

2008-20095.04.43.75.39.112.811.8

2009-20102.73.33.45.98.310.611.8

Relative humidity%

Dec.Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.MayJun.Monthly

rate

2006-200755.877.98881.873.964.152.975.5

2007-200881.256.47381.252.840.930.168.9

2008-200970568.479.572.362.652.240.270.7

2009-201082.275.980.977.560.682.659.975.5

8

Climatic changes in Aleppo province during previous five years were:

1. Decreasing the sunshine hours per day during December, January and February months.

2. No changes was observed in relative humidity (%) during December, January and February months

Climatic Factors / Aleppo – Serbaya Station

The effect of warm winter on spikes number (m2) and tillering number (plant) of some durum wheat varieties in the farmers

fields at Yahmool Research Station/Aleppo (1st settlement) during 2009 and 2010 growing seasons

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VarietySpikes number / m2Tillering number / plant

2009201020092010

Cham537026332

Cham142327032

Douma14673103.52

Average4202813.22.0

Spikes and tillering numbers of tested durum wheat varieties were varied among seasons according to climatic changes (Warm winter):

1. Spikes and tillering numbers for each tested durum wheat varieties were decreased by third during 2010 growing season in comparison with 2009 growing season

Productivity of some bread and durum wheat varieties during 2007-2010 growing seasons (kg/ha)

10

Productivity of tested bread and durum wheat varieties were varied according to variety and season, the highest productivity was obtained during 2008/2009 growing season in comparison with others.

1. The percentages of productivity decrease (PPD) for bread wheat cvs. (Joulan2, Chaim4, and Cham10) n irrigated zone were high during 2010 season in comparison with other previous seasons, while they were moderate for some durum wheat cvs. (Cham1 and Bohouth9).

2. PPD for bread wheat cvs. (Joulan2, Cham4 and Chame 10 ) and durum wheat cvs. (Bohoutth11 and Douma1) in 1st settlement were moderate during 2010 season in 1st settlement in comparison with other previous seasons,

Weight of 1000 grains (g) for some bread and durum wheat varieties during 2007-2010 growing seasons

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1000 grain weight (g) of tested bread and durum wheat varieties were varied according to variety and season, the highest 1000 grain weight was obtained during 2008/2009 growing season in comparison with others. The percentages of decreasing1000 grain weight for tested bread wheat cvs. (Cham10, Cham8 and Bohouth8) in irrigated zone and in 1st settlement (Joulan2, Cham4 and Cham10) were moderate during 2010 season in comparison with other previous seasons, while they were low for durum wheat cvs.(Cham7, Cham1, Bohouth9, Bohouth7, Bohouth11 and Douma1).

Productivity of some released and promising bread and durum wheat varieties in the experimental fields during 2009-2010 growing season (kg/ha)

Bread (irrigated):

Bread (Rainfed/1st settlement):

Bread (Rainfed 2nd settlement):

Durum (irrigated):

Durum (Rainfed/1st settlement):

Durum (Rainfed/2nd settlement):

Bohooth 8Sham8Sham10Douma 48335 (promising)Douma 40765 (promising)

30302995314450064636

Joulan2Sham4Sham10Bohooth6ACSAD1133(promising)Douma40444 (promising)Douma48114(promising)

2972331728763155382336673695

Douma4Douma 2ACSAD1133 (promising)ACSAD1069 (promising)ACSAD1115(promising)

16781629160417141730

Cham7Bohooth9Sham1

594154265348

Bohooth11Bohooth7Douma1Cham9Douma45367 (promising)

33263417308036883693

HouraniSham3Sham5Sham9Douma1Douma41282 (promising)

9401304158915191639162312The priority was for The …., Followed by

Control strategiesUse of resistant or moderate resistant (tolerant) bread wheat varieties for controlling yellow rust.Decrease of area ratios under bread wheat, and Increase the durum cultivated area.Application of IDM where the susceptible bread wheat varieties will be grown to control yellow rust.