Yellow Rust: Threat to Global Wheat Production

S. RajaramConsultant, ICARDA

& A. Yahyaoui

Senior Cereal Pathologist, ICARDACoordinator, ICWIP

Region Area (Mln) Production (Mln.MT) Yield (T/Ha)

World 222.76 683.41 3.06

North Africa 6.08 14.47 2.38

Western Asia 12.37 25.57 2.07

Central Asia 15.84 22.79 1.44

Eastern Asia 24.05 113.74 4.73

South Asia 36.00 112.53 3.11

North America 33.37 100.64 3.01

South America 7.37 11.91 1.61

Europe 61.60 248.00 4.03

Australia, NZ 13.57 21.76 1.60

Wheat Area (Mln. ha), Production (Mln.MT), and Yield (T/ha)

FAO Statistics, 2008

Rank CountryProduction (Mln .MT) Rank Country

Production (Mln.MT)

1 China 112.46 11 Turkey 17.78

2 India 78.57 12 U.K 17.23

3 USA 68.02 13 Kazakhstan 12.54

4 Russian Fed. 63.76 14 Poland 9.27

5 France 39.00 15 Italy 8.856 Canada 28.61 16 Argentina 8.51

7 Germany 25.98 17 Egypt 7.98

8 Ukraine 25.88 18 Iran 7.95

9 Australia 21.42 19 Romania 7.18

10 Pakistan 20.96 20 Brazil 6.03

Top 20 wheat Producing countries

FAO Statistics, 2008

Grain gap in 30 CWANA countries (excluding Turkey and Kazakhstan)

Source: World Bank 1993

World total wheat utilization was forecasted to rise by 17 million tonnes, or 2.7 percent, from the stagnant level in 2007/08

World food consumption of wheat in 2008/09 was forecasted to rise to 453 million tonnes, up by 7 million tonnes, or 1.6 percent, from 2007/08

FAO Statistics, 2008

Wheat Yellow (Stripe) Rust

Most common and widespread rust disease of wheat

Yield losses (10-80%) in CWANAEst. value of crop loss could reach > 1 billion USD.

Puccinia striiformis fsp tritici

Potential affected area of over 30 mln ha in CWANA

Cyclic occurrence of yellow rust epidemicsIn the Mediterranean Region

“Historical Events”

Production loss of cultivar Achtar : 100,000 T Monetary loss : $ 30 m US dollars

Reoccurrence of Yellow rust in Morocco & Turkey

Estimated Yield loss Gereck : 40% Monetary loss : > $52 m US dollars

2009 Yellow rust appeared in south part of Uzbekistan

in February and other parts in middle of April

20 of 22 commercial varieties were susceptible

Uzbekistan (2009)

Estimated $100 Million dollars loss (at $140/m.t) (production & Chemicals)

(R.C Sharma, 2009)

Iran:

>150 (1993),

>$100 (2002, 2009 )

Turkey:

>$560 (1992);

>$300 (96, 00, 04,09)

Important yield losses (Mln USD)across the region

Uzbekistan:

>$400 (1998, 02, 09)

Country Year Yield loss (%)/Mln tons Major Grown Varieties (Susceptible)

India PBW343,Pakistan InquilabTurkey 2002

201010-20 %>30%

Gereck, Gun 91, Sultan 95Gereck, Gun 91, Bezostaya, Katya

Syria 2010 30-80 Cham 8, Cham 6Iran 1993

19952010

1.5 mln Tons (15%)1.0 mln Tons (10%)1.0 Mln Tons (5-10 %)

Sardari, Roshan, Omid, Ghods, Falat, Sardari, Roshan, Omid, Ghods, FalatSardari, Kohdasht, Azar2, Zagros, Chamran, Pishtaz, Morvarid, Alvand, Bahar

Uzbekistan 200520092010

10-20%40-50%>40%

Polovchanka, Kroshka, Pamyat

Kazakhstan 20072009

5-10%40-50%

Nazhtsu, Pamyat 47, Yuzhnaya

Azerbaijan 2009, 2010

10-60%>30%

Mirbasir 128; Azametli 95; Mirbasir 128; Azametli 95;

Morocco 20092010

30%10-25%

Achtar, Merchouch, ArrihaneAchtar, Aguilal, Arrihane

Recent yield losses in key wheat producing countries

Country Fungicide Use Use frequency

Uzbekistan, Common Annual basis

Azerbaijan Frequent Epidemic years

Iran Frequent Epidemic years

Turkey Less frequent Sparsely used in 2009; Widely used in 2010

Morocco Not common Sparsely used in 2009; Widely used in 2010

Syria Not common

Pakistan Less frequent Sparsely used in 2010

Algeria, Tunisia

Not common Fungicide application in epidemic years

Egypt Not common Used as request by plant protection

Ethiopia Not common Widely used in 2010

Chemical control of Yellow rust in major wheat producing countriesIn CWANA

Pre-Breeding/ Breeding for yellow rust resistance

Previous conferences on yellow rust (Iran 2000, Pakistan 2004, Uzbekistan 2006, and recently Turkey 2009) strongly recommended use of Yr5 and Yr15 genes

Where do we stand on utilization of these genes?Are there cultivars released with these genes ?

Pre-Breeding/ Breeding for yellow rust resistance

Could key location testing be sufficiently funded to screen germplasm and varieties on time and recommended to NARS?

Could field pathology be reinvented to support the breeding?

Concluding remarks

Varietal Diversification Absolute Necessity in CWANA

Chemical applications as an important component of YR control

Seed multiplication of newer varieties on timely basis as replacement strategy

Timely detection and identification of new races of yellow rust

Epidemic forecasting system in place as regional strategy to advise Agricultural Ministry