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Plant Wars Episode I: The fungal menace


Norwich, United Kingdom
April 21, 2015

At a time where a rising global population demands an increasing rate of food production, worldwide wheat yield is being threatened by the disease stripe rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp tritici.   

Wheat yellow rust (Credit: JIC)

This disease infects wheat causing a severe or complete loss of yield. Previously thought to prefer cooler temperatures, stripe rust has developed more aggressive strains capable of thriving in warmer climates, providing the disease with a global reach.

While various strains of stripe rust have been observed in South Africa since 1996, little is currently known about the genetic diversity of this disease within the country.

Hester van Schalkwyk, visiting PhD student at TGAC, is currently conducting a research project analysing the genetic data of historic and recent South African stripe rust samples.

We spoke to Hester about her research and how further insight into this crop disease may help us tackle the severe threat it poses.

How did you come to TGAC as a visiting PhD student?

Through networking of my supervisor in South Africa, Dr Renée Prins, and Dr Diane Saunders (TGAC/JIC).

How much of a threat does stripe rust pose to South African farmers?

Stem rust is currently a bigger problem than stripe rust in South Africa, but farmers need to spray fungicides, often multiple times per season, to treat and prevent a group of fungal infections.

Does stripe rust in South Africa differ to the disease in other parts of the world?

The South African isolates have a unique virulence profile. These isolates are thus virulent to unique sets of resistance genes in wheat.

How much is currently known about the genetic diversity of stripe rust in South Africa?

Very little is known to date. There are ongoing studies that use microsatellite marker technology, but this study is the first to use whole genome and transcriptomic data to determine the diversity.

What key questions are you trying to answer in your research on stripe yellow rust in South Africa?

I want to investigate possible origin(s), look at the diversity between the South African isolates and look at specific effector genes that are upregulated in the specific isolates during infection.

Could insights gained from your work lead to practical advancements for breeders and farmers in the fight against stripe yellow rust?

Yes, I plan to develop diagnostic markers to differentiate between the different isolates. This will help to easily identify which isolate is prevalent in a field or region.

How does this research fit alongside research being conducted globally against stripe yellow rust?

My research follows on from studies done in the UK and will provide further information on stripe rust in South Africa to help the global fight against the disease.

 

What do think the future for the fight against stripe yellow rust holds? Will this disease ever be eradicated?

There are too many factors that can influence this to easily make a prediction. Environmental changes together with plant breeding and treatment of the disease will all influence the future of the disease.

Hester plans to publish her research in the near future.



More news from: Earlham Institute


Website: http://www.earlham.ac.uk

Published: April 21, 2015



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