This collection features five peer-reviewed reviews on rust diseases of cereals.
The first chapter provides an overview of the wheat rust pathogen lifecycle that has been critical to the design of effective disease management strategies and discusses recent integration of basic biological knowledge and genomic-led tools within an epidemiological framework.
The second chapter introduces stripe rust and provides an overview of its decimation of crop yields worldwide. The chapter summarises recent advances in identifying stripe rust resistance genes in wheat as a means of controlling disease spread and limiting its economic damage.
The third chapter addresses the need for more effective and sustainable control of rust pathogens affecting wheat and barley in the face of increasing regulatory measures against the use of conventional fungicides, as well as the spread of fungicide resistance.
The fourth chapter provides an overview of the recent advances in controlling wheat rust, focussing on the role of pathogen and host genetics, host-pathogen interactions, epidemiology and management strategies.
The final chapter considers the main rust pathogens affecting sorghum and details the different conditions in which they proliferate, their symptoms and impact on crop yields.
Chapter 1 - Advances in understanding the biology and epidemiology of rust diseases of cereals: Vanessa Bueno-Sancho, Clare M. Lewis and Diane G. O. Saunders, John Innes Centre, UK; 1 Introduction2 The wheat rust pathogen lifecycle3 Epidemiology of the wheat rust pathogens4 Developing integrated disease forecasting for wheat rusts5 Mechanisms of wheat rust control6 Studying wheat rust pathogens in the genomic era7 Case study: field pathogenomics8 Conclusion and future trends9 Where to look for further information10 Acknowledgements11 References Chapter 2 - Advances in identifying stripe rust resistance genes in cereals: Tianheng Ren, Zhi Li, Feiquan Tan, Cheng Jiang and Peigao Luo, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; 1 Introduction2 Stripe rust resistance genes3 Traditional methods for identifying wheat resistance genes4 Molecular marker methods for identifying wheat resistance genes5 Application of sequence-based technology in Yr gene mapping6 Case study: application of stripe resistance genes in southwestern China7 Where to look for further information8 Acknowledgements9 References Chapter 3 - Diseases affecting wheat and barley: rusts: R. F. Park, University of Sydney, Australia; 1 Introduction2 The incidence and impact of wheat rust diseases3 The incidence and impact of barley rust diseases4 Rust resistance genes5 Rust pathogen biology6 Integrated methods of rust control7 Durable resistance8 Future trends in research9 Where to look for further information10 Acknowledgements11 References Chapter 4 - Advances in control of wheat rust: Z. A. Pretorius, University of the Free State, South Africa; M. Ayliffe, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Australia; R. L. Bowden, ARS-USDA, USA; L. A. Boyd, National Institute of Agricultural Botany, UK; R. M. DePauw, Advancing Wheat Technologies, Canada; Y. Jin, ARS-USDA Cereal Disease Laboratory, USA; R. E. Knox, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; R. A. McIntosh and R. F. Park, University of Sydney, Australia; R. Prins, CenGen and University of the Free State, South Africa; and E. S. Lagudah, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Australia; 1 Introduction2 Historical context and basic concepts3 Surveillance and pathogen variability4 Host genetics5 Interactions between wheat host and rust pathogen6 Strategies and procedures to breed for resistance to rusts7 Resistance gene stewardship8 Future trends and conclusion9 Where to look for further information10 References Chapter 5 - Sorghum diseases and their management in cultivation: seedling, seed, panicle and foliar diseases: C. R. Little and A. Y. Bandara, Kansas State University, USA; and R. Perumal, Agricultural Research Center – Hays, USA; 1 Introduction2 Seed rots and seedling diseases3 Sorghum downy mildew4 Crazy top downy mildew5 Grain mould and weathering6 Head blight7 Ergot8 Head smut9 Covered kernel smut10 Loose kernel smut11 Long smut12 Anthracnose13 Grey leaf spot14 Leaf blight15 Oval leaf spot16 Rust17 Sooty stripe18 Rough leaf spot19 Target leaf spot20 Tar spot21 Zonate leaf spot22 Conclusions and future trends 23 Acknowledgements24 Where to look for further information25 References
