Aspects of wheat rust research in Australia

Abstract

A National Wheat Rust Control Program, that has operated in Australia since 1975, provides national pathotype surveys for the three rust pathogens, undertakes ongoing searches for new sources of resistance and carries out genetic analyses of these sources, and provides rust screening and germplasm enhancement support for breeders. The program was expanded in the 1980s to address problems arising from the introduction of wheat stripe rust. A new form of stripe rust, described as barley grass stripe rust, was first detected in 1998. Although virulent on some wheat seedlings this new rust appears to be a greater threat to barley. Molecular markers are expected to make an increasing impact on our ability to select the gene combinations needed to enhance the durability of resistance.