Photo Credit: Dr M. Hussain

Extensive wheat rust surveys were undertaken by several research institutes in Pakistan during March to May 2011. The surveys covered all the major wheat growing areas from Sindh province in the south to the northern plains. A total of 56 unique sites were surveyed using standard BGRI methodology. Multiple records were obtained from several sites, resulting in a total of 101 rust observations. All three rusts were observed on the survey, but the spatial distribution was characteristically different for each species.

Stem rust was observed at 8 of the individual sites visited. All these sites were clustered in the south of Sindh province. Samples were collected and subsequent race analysis should determine which races are present. All previous samples collected from these areas have been typed as race RRTTF.

Yellow rust was recorded at 22 individual sites. The majority of these were clustered in the Northern plain areas. High or moderate severity (>20%) of diseases was recorded at 8 of the sites surveyed. All bar one of these sites were located in the northern areas between Lahore and Islamabad.

Leaf rust was recorded at 26 individual sites. Records were distributed throughout the areas surveyed. The majority of records related to low severity (1-20%) of disease. Only 5 sites recorded high severity (>40%) of disease.