New Ug99 video documentary released “Out of Uganda: An Aggressive Crop Killer That Threatens Global Food”

Out of Uganda: An Aggressive Crop Killer That Threatens Global Food Fungal disease in wheat crops has been a serious but controllable problem, but a newer strain of what’s called “stem rust” has scientists worried. January 8, 2018 by Kerstin … Continue reading

Jan 12, 2016: Molecular diagnostics indicate presence of race TKTTF (“Digalu” race) in Kenya

Analysis of dead, single pustule stem rust pathogen samples (D-samples) using molecular diagnostic SNP assay at the USDA-ARS Cereals Disease Lab, Minnesota has detected a race TKTTF (“Digalu” race) genotype in Kenya for the first time. Five samples from 2014 … Continue reading

Dec 20, 2015: Five new variants of Ug99 confirmed from 2013/2014 samples in East Africa

Combined results from race analysis undertaken at several different labs indicate that five new variants in the Ug99 lineage were detected from samples collected in East Africa during 2013 or 2014. Probably most significant were the two new SrTmp variants … Continue reading

Sep 2, 2015: Emergence and spread of virulence to SrTmp in the Ug99 race group in Africa – note published in Plant Disease

Mehran Patpour (Global Rust Reference Center in Denmark) and co-authors have just published details of the emergence and spread of virulence to SrTmp in the Ug99 race group in Africa. The note is now available as a First Look in … Continue reading

October 27, 2014: Kenya 2014 Rust Surveys- High Level of stem rust; Yellow rust and Leaf rust at low levels

Rust surveys were carried out in all the four key wheat growing regions of Kenya: South Rift, Mount Kenya region, Central Rift and North Rift. The surveys were conducted by experts from the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institution (KARI). A total … Continue reading

Oct 10, 2013: Survey summary, Kenya 2013 – Stem rust predominates, but resistant cultivar “Kenya Robin” gaining popularity

During 2013 (Jan-Sept.) staff from KARI, Njoro, led by Ruth Wanyera, carried out extensive annual rust surveys throughout the Kenyan wheat growing areas. A total of 333 fields were surveyed for rusts. stem rust continues to be the predominant disease … Continue reading

July 2, 2012: Several new rust resistant varieties released in Ethiopia and Kenya

Breeding for rust resistance in East Africa is moving forward at a rapid pace. National research programs in both Ethiopia and Kenya have recently announced the formal release of several new rust resistant varieties in both countries. The Ethiopian Institute … Continue reading