New Mutations of UG99 Pose Threat to Wheat Production

Four new mutations of Ug99, a strain of a deadly wheat pathogen known as stem rust, may pose an even greater threat to global wheat production than the original strain. These new "races" can defeat two of the most important stem rust-resistant genes, which are widely used in most of the world's wheat breeding programs. This grim scenario was discussed by wheat experts from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, who are attending a global wheat meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia organized by the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative. Host of the meeting is the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry.

"With the new mutations we are seeing, countries cannot afford to wait until rust 'bites' them," said Dr. Ravi Singh, senior scientist in plant genetics and pathology with the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). "The variant of Ug99 identified in Kenya, for example, went from first detection in trace amounts in one year to epidemic proportions the next year."

Dr. Mahmoud Solh, director general of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) noted that "Wheat rust researchers around the world have united in an unprecedented collaboration to monitor the spread of wheat rust, find new sources of rust resistance from wild relatives of wheat, and deploy varieties with durable resistance." However, he said that policy makers must be able to provide sustained support needed to remain prepared for future challenges.

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