What is Ug99?

Ug99 is a lineage of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. It can cause up to 100% crop losses and is virulent against many resistance genes which have previously protected wheat against stem rust. …

What kind of fungus is Ug99?

Race Ug99 of the fungus Puccinia graminis tritici that causes stem or black rust disease on wheat was first detected in Uganda in 1998.

Is Ug99 in Australia?

It is not present in Australia, but poses a major risk to the wheat industry, in terms of industry revenue losses and increased production costs, if the strain were to arrive in the country. This report estimates the economic impact of a wheat stem rust strain Ug99 outbreak on the Australian wheat industry.

Which of the following crop is affected by Ug99?

The rust affects wheat, barley, oats and rye. The disease spreads from plant to plant by spores, which are small, light and can survive for several days.

Where is Ug99?

The pathogen is changing rapidly and fourteen known variants have been identified within the Ug99 lineage of wheat stem rust. The Ug99 race group is present in 14 countries, with Iraq being the most recent country in which the Ug99 race group was detected (Nazari et al 2021 – see map).

What is Ug99 and why is it a global concern?

Ug99 (Race TTKSK) is a cause for concern as it exhibits unique virulence patterns. Additional important resistance genes e.g., Sr24 & Sr36 have now been defeated by variants of Ug99. Ug99 or variants are considered a major threat to wheat production with an estimated 80-90% of global wheat cultivars susceptible.

What is the Ug99 strain of black stem rust?

Black or wheat stem rust is a serious fungal disease of wheat and barley caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici. Crops infected with black stem rust (BSR) suffer severe yield losses.

How do you prevent wheat from rusting?

Completely removing traces of a previous crop also helps prevent other wheat crop diseases. Resistant varieties are your main defense against wheat rust. Since the spores are adept at modifying themselves when they meet resistance, contact your Cooperative Extension agent for advice about which varieties to grow.

How is the Ug99 strain of wheat spreading around the world?

The disease spreads by wind-blown fungal spores. Planting highly resistant wheat varieties in the southern United States where stem rust fungus can survive winter could prevent the disease from taking hold in the South and then spreading to the rest of the country.

What is the danger of Ug99 to global food production?

The stem rust fungus ‘Ug99’ is one of the greatest threats to global wheat production today. It has been called the “polio of agriculture” due to its virulence and far and fast reach. This wind-traveling mutant strain produces millions of spores – all of which can cause infection.

What is the most virulent strain of stem rust currently known is it in the US?

Barberry is the most dangerous source of primary inoculum of stem rust in temperate regions. If barberry grows near wheat fields, it will be a consistent source of aeciospores for the earliest infections of wheat in the spring (Figure 13).

What kills rust on plants?

Some rust spores can overwinter. If these good gardening practices aren’t enough to control the rust in your garden, try a product that contains a sulfur or copper fungicide, or use sulfur dust or Neem oil.

Can You import Ug99 wheat stem rust into Australia?

To keep Ug99 wheat stem rust out of Australia, never ignore Australia’s strict biosecurity rules. Import shipments may need to be treated and certified, so before you import, check our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON). The symptoms of Ug99 wheat stem rust are identical to other wheat stem rusts in Australia.

Are there any other races like the Ug99?

There are now 13 known races of Ug99. They are all closely related and are believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, but differ in their virulence /avirulence profiles and the countries in which they have been detected. Ug99 is the product of a type of somatic nuclear exchange event which has not been observed in other stem rust races.

How does Ug99 affect the grain industry in Australia?

Ug99 therefore poses a high biosecurity risk to the grains industry in Australia because it would infect plants, ruin crops and see some of our trade partners reject our exports. The rust affects wheat, barley, oats and rye. The disease spreads from plant to plant by spores, which are small, light and can survive for several days.

When was Ug99 first detected in South Africa?

It was found in Uganda in 1999, Kenya in 2001, Ethiopia in 2003, Sudan and Yemen in 2006, Iran in 2007, and Tanzania in 2009, Eritrea in 2012, and Rwanda and Egypt in 2014. Sr14 does not protect seedlings against TTKSK but does provide moderate resistance at later stages. First detected in South Africa in 2000, Zimbabwe 2009, and Uganda in 2012.