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

9 April 2015: CAUTION – Increased vigilance needed in eastern Mediterranean countries following confirmation of Ug99 (race TTKSK) in Egypt

Following the confirmed detection of Ug99 (race TTKSK) in Egypt in 2014 (BGRI special newsletter report April 2015) increased vigilance is needed for stem rust in the eastern Mediterranean. Although no confirmed reports of race TTKSK have been obtained from … Continue reading

20 March 2015: CAUTION – Increasing risk of stripe (yellow) rust outbreaks North Africa to South Asia

Favourable weather conditions for stripe rust are occurring across North Africa to South Asia. Cool, wet conditions across many parts of the region are producing a conducive environment for disease outbreaks. Aggressive races with virulence to Yr27 are known to … Continue reading

Feb 4, 2015: Preliminary report for Puccinia striifromis race analysis 2014 published by Global Rust Reference Center (GRRC), Aarhus University, Denmark.

Following the recent release of the 2013 stripe rust report, the Global Rust Reference Center in Denmark has now just published the latest report detailing the results of race analysis for  Puccinia striifromis samples submitted during the period January – … Continue reading

Alert – Jan 9, 2015: Summary of Ethiopia 2014/15 rust situation. Re-current, localized stem rust epidemics caused by race TKTTF (“Digalu” race) in Ethiopia. Extreme caution and vigilance needed in East Africa

Following the localized stem rust epidemics in Ethiopia on the cultivar “Digalu” in 2013/14 (see report 23rd Dec 2013); continued, severe stem rust outbreaks have been observed in the 2014/15 main season. Once again the popular cultivar “Digalu” has been … Continue reading