Protecting Wheat From a New Global Threat

Wheat growers have a new nemesis in the form of Ug99, a rust fungus to which very few of the currently grown varieties of wheat are resistant. How to combat this scourge? Scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) will be releasing the first wheat lines by pyramiding two or more genes for resistance to Ug99. Wheat breeders will be able to use the new line along with others to develop new commercial varieties with high yield and Ug99 protection.

To protect U.S. wheat, ARS scientists will be determining U.S. wheat and barley vulnerability to Ug99, identifying new sources of genetic resistance, discovering molecular markers to speed up breeding for protection, developing rapid detection methods, and nationwide surveillance for Ug99 in the U.S. They are also collaborating with researchers across the country and around the world to find ways to deal with this massive threat to a global food staple.

To read more, visit: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080616.htm.