Latest Survey Data
- Rust Issues: Leaf and yellow rust are serious constraints to wheat production.
- Ug99 Status: No Ug99 lineage races have been detected in Bhutan.
Situation Updates:
The latest version of the Mehtaensis newsletter (a 6 monthly newsletter named after Prof. K.C. Mehta) has just been published by ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla. Compiled and edited by Pramod Prasad, Hanif Khan, O.P. Gangwar, and S.C. Bhardwaj with technical assistance from S.B. Singh and Subodh Kumar. Mehtaensis contains a detailed summary of all the rust activities and race analysis results from India and neighbouring South Asian countries during the period Jan – July 2016. The executive summary is reproduced here:
“A new Lr gene was identified in local wheat LWH2. This gene confers resistance to all the pathotypes of Puccinia triticina (except pathotype 5R9-7) in India. Wheat rusts did not appear in epidemic form during 2015-16 in India. The sporadic occurrence of yellow rust was reported from few areas of North western plains and northern hills zones, but its further spread was halted through joint efforts of ICAR-IIWBR, SAUs, State Department of Agriculture and farmers. Black rust was restricted to Central and Peninsular India whereas brown rust was observed across all the zones but their severity and incidence was quite low. During 2015-16, 1028 samples of different rusts of wheat and barley were received/collected for pathotype analyses from Ravi and off season crops. About 580 samples of three rusts of wheat and yellow rust of barley were analyzed. Many of the yellow rust samples could not be revived. Yellow rust population was avirulent to resistance genes Yr5, Yr10, Yr11, Yr12, Yr13, Yr14, Yr15 & YrSp and black rust to Sr 26, Sr 27, Sr31, Sr32, Sr 35, Sr39, Sr 40, Sr 43, SrTt3 & SrTmp; and brown rust to Lr24, Lr25, Lr29, Lr32, Lr39, Lr42 and Lr45. The frequency of pathotype 46S119 (virulent on Yr2, Yr3, Yr4, Yr6, Yr7, Yr8, Yr9, Yr17, Yr18, Yr19, Yr21, Yr22, Yr23, Yr25, YrA) of yellow rust, 79G31 (virulent on Sr2, Sr5, Sr6, Sr7b Sr9a, Sr9b,Sr9c, Sr9d, Sr9f, Sr9g, Sr10, Sr13, Sr14, Sr15, Sr16, Sr17, Sr18, Sr19, Sr20, Sr21, Sr28, Sr29, Sr30, Sr34, Sr36, Sr38, SrMcN) of black rust and 121R60-1 (virulent on Lr1, Lr3, Lr10, Lr11, Lr12, Lr13, Lr14a, Lr14b,Lr14ab, Lr15, Lr16, Lr17a, Lr17b, Lr18, Lr20, Lr21, Lr22a, Lr22b, Lr23, Lr26,Lr27+31, Lr30, Lr33, Lr34, Lr35, Lr36, Lr37, Lr38, Lr44, Lr46, Lr48, Lr49) of brown rust was the maximum in their respective categories. Continue reading
The latest version (Vol 34, July 2014, No. 2) of the Mehtaensis newsletter (a 6 monthly newsletter named after Prof. K.C. Mehta) has just been published by the DWR, Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla. Compiled by Dr. S.C. Bhardwaj, O.P. Gangwar, P. Prasad and Hanif Khan with technical assistance from: S.B. Singh, Subodh Kumar (Mehtaensis July 2014 Vol.34No.2). Mehtaensis contains a detailed summary of all the rust activities and race analysis results from India and neighbouring South Asian countries during the 2013/14 season. Reported highlights are summarized as follows:
There was no major outbreak of wheat rusts in India during 2013-14. However, sporadic incidence of yellow rust of wheat was observed at some locations in Northern India. Stem (Black) rust of wheat was reported on indigenous experimental wheat material planted in Uttarakhand and barley material in Karnataka. During the year 1625 samples of different rusts of wheat and barley were received/collected for pathotype analyses. Analyses of more than 1209 samples revealed that the wheat rust population analyzed is avirulent to Yr5, Yr10, Yr11, Yr12, Yr13, Yr14, Yr15, Yr24, Yr26, YrSp and YrSk (yellow/stripe rust); to Sr26, Sr27, Sr31, Sr32, Sr35, Sr39, Sr40, Sr43, SrTt3 and SrTmp (black/stem rust); to Lr24, Lr25, Lr29, Lr32, Lr39, Lr42 and Lr45 (brown/leaf rust). Predominant pathotypes were; (i) yellow/stripe rust: 46S119 (74% of samples) and 78S84 (18.5% of samples); (ii) brown/leaf rust: 77-5 (121R63-1=THTTM) predominant, followed by 104-2 (21R55=PHTTL); (iii) black/stem rust: pathotype 11 (79G31=RRTSF) was predominant followed by pathotype 40A (62G29=PTHSC). One new pathotype each of the three wheat rusts were identified, however all were less virulent than those already described. Virulence on Sr31 (Ug99 type of pathotypes) was not identified anywhere in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
Rust surveys were coordinated and undertaken by the National Plant Protection Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Semtokha, Thimpu, Bhutan in collaboration with the Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat (DRRW) project during the period 25th April – 3rd May 2013. Surveys were undertaken in the western (Paro, Punakha valleys) and central (Bumthang) wheat growing areas. A total of 31 sites were surveyed. Leaf rust was the most widespread disease, being recorded at 45% (n=14) of the sites surveyed. Leaf rust was observed in all the areas visited but incidence and severity was highest in the Punakha area. Two newly released lines from Nepal, being evaluated at Bajo Research and Development Centre, were susceptible to leaf rust and this may indicate exposure to different races of leaf rust in Bhutan.
Surprisingly, given the regional context and seemingly favourable climatic conditions in 2013, yellow rust was only found at very low incidence in Bhutan. Yellow rust was only observed at 8 sites on the survey and all but two of these sites only had trace amounts of disease. One site – Susuna in southern Paro – had exceptionally high incidence and severity of yellow rust. With a single field (1-2 ha) of an unknown improved variety exhibiting 100% incidence and 60-70% severity. Neighbouring fields of local cultivars appeared virtually disease free.
No positive observation of stem rust was obtained on the field survey. As on the previous survey in 2012, flag smut (Urocystis agropyri) was observed at two locations. These locations differed from those recorded in 2012. Current observations confirmed the presence of this disease at low frequency in Bhutan.
Considerable attention was given to Berberis species on the Bhutan rust survey. Berberis sp. were extremely common in all the wheat growing areas visited. From field observations it was considered likely that up to 8 different species of Berberis were present along the survey route. Efforts to conclusively identify these different species are on-going. Two distinct species of Berberis were found to be infected with aecia, with infected bushes observed at 4 unique locations (including the Susuna site with high incidence of yellow rust. Infected Berberis were also observed at this location in 2012). Several aecial samples and rust samples were collected on the survey and are currently undergoing analysis.
The latest version of the Mehtaensis newsletter (a 6 monthly newsletter named after Prof. K.C. Mehta) has just been published by the DWR, Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla. Compiled by Dr. S.C. Bhardwaj, Mehtaensis contains a detailed summary of all the rust activities and race analysis results from India and neighbouring South Asian countries during the period Aug 2012 – Jan 2013. The executive summary is reproduced here:
“All the rusts of wheat were observed in Summer Crop of Nilgiri hills (Tamil Nadu) and Leh (Jammu & Kashmir) whereas black rust was not observed in Dalang and Kinnaur areas of Himachal Pradesh. Owing to the dry weather there was no record of rusts except for mild brown rust in Karnataka.
Analysis of 213 samples of rusts of wheat and barley indicated that there was no occurrence of new pathotypes. Pathotype 40A followed by 40-1 of black rust, 46S119 followed by 78S84 of yellow rust and 77-5 followed by 104-2 of brown rust were predominant in wheat growing areas of India and neighboring countries. To identify the rust resistant lines, characterizing resistance genes, confirm the presence of resistance genes and genetics of rust resistance 1811 lines of wheat were subjected to multipathotype evaluation. National repository of 126 pathotypes of different rust pathogens was maintained, nucleus bulk inocula were supplied to 38 Scientist/centres in public and private sectors. Wheat disease monitoring nursery was a organized for planting at 45 locations. Evaluation and advancement of 34 cross combinations is being undertaken.” Mehtaensis 33(1) January, 2013
The latest version of the Mehtaensis newsletter (a 6 monthly newsletter named after Prof. K.C. Mehta) has just been published by the DWR, Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla. Compiled by Dr. S.C. Bhardwaj, Mehtaensis contains a detailed summary of all the rust activities and race analysis results from India and neighbouring South Asian countries during the period Jan – July 2012. The executive summary is reproduced here:
“During 2011-12 crop year, there was scanty rainfall early in the season. Wheat rusts appeared almost one month late than previous year. Except for some localized incidences of yellow rust in northern India, it was comparatively less rust year. Inoculation of aecial stages from Berberis on wheat, barley and oat showed that these were not related. Likewise, rust samples from grasses could not infect wheat, barley however, one sample infected oat. This year 1655 samples of wheat and barley rusts were collected and 1006 were analyzed. Pathotype 46S119 of yellow rust was most predominant followed by 78S84 in northern India. In Nilgiri hills pathotype I(38S102) was common. In Ladhakh pathotype CI, followed by CII and CIII were observed. These pathotypes do not occur anywhere else in India. In Black rust pathotype 40A followed by 40-1 were common in Nilgiri hills. In Ladhakh area, pathotype 34-1 was identified in all the samples. This pathotype is very primitive and does not occur in other parts of India. In brown rust pathotype 77-5 was observed in most of the samples from India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. During this year 1625 wheat and barley lines were evaluated at seedling stage against different pathotypes of three rusts. None of the wheat AVT lines showed resistance to all the rusts however, three lines of barley were resistant to three rusts. Ten Lr genes were characterized in 151 lines, 5 Yr genes in 117 and 13 Sr genes in 159 lines. Wheat disease monitoring nurseries was planted at 38 locations distributed in all the wheat growing areas of India. Likewise SAARC nursery was planted in 23 locations in five SAARC nations.”