Nature Biotechnology publishes research on wheat resistant to rust fungal diseases
The most effective and environmentally benign way to control wheat rust is through the use of genetic resistance. Courtesy photo
Nature Biotechnology has published research — partially funded by The 2Blades Foundation — on the development of a new wheat variety that shows exceptional resistance to wheat stem rust.
Stem rust is among the world’s most devastating plant diseases, with records of stem rust pandemics dating back over 2000 years. The stem rust pathogen Puccinia graminis is capable of completely destroying a crop of wheat in a matter of weeks.
The most effective and environmentally benign way to control wheat rust is through the use of genetic resistance. The recurring threat to the wheat crop had been managed successfully in the 1960s through Norman Borlaug’s breeding of the wheat varieties introduced in the Green Revolution. But rust pathogen races have now evolved to overcome that resistance and once again the disease threatens harvests.