Rust-Resistant Wheat for a Flourishing Future
The rust-resistant wheat varieties are specifically developed to combat wheat rust. They are equipped with two types of resistance genes. The first type, All-stage resistance (ASR) genes, provide strong protection from specific rust fungi during all developmental stages of the plant. However, if only a single ASR gene is deployed, the fungi can evolve to overcome this protection. The second type, Adult plant resistance (APR) genes, provide partial resistance during the later development stages of the plant. APRs can confer longer resistance without developing pathogen evolution and can provide broad-spectrum resistance to all rust fungi races. By combining ASR and APR genes, wheat varieties can achieve a more effective and long-lasting resistance against rust.
This technology is TAAT1 validated.
Adults 18 and over: Positive high
The poor: Positive medium
Under 18: Positive low
Women: Positive medium
Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable
Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement
Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity
Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released
Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health
Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility
Water use: Much less water used
Yellow Rust and Stem Rust Epidemics: Yellow rust and stem rust are destructive diseases that cause significant yield losses (50-90%) and can rapidly devastate wheat crops in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Quick Spread of Rust Diseases: These diseases spread rapidly through wind-borne spores, leading to massive losses, as exemplified by the highly virulent African strain of stem rust, Ug99.
Emergence of New Rust Strains: There is a continuous emergence of new strains of rust diseases, making it challenging to control them effectively.
Infections in Native Grasses: Rust diseases can infect native grasses, making it difficult to eradicate them from agricultural landscapes.
All-Stage Resistance (ASR): These genes provide strong, race-specific protection against rust fungi at all developmental stages of the plant.
Adult Plant Resistance (APR): These genes offer partial resistance during the later stages of the plant’s development. They can confer longer-lasting resistance and provide broad-spectrum protection against all races of rust fungi.
High Yield Potential: Despite the resistance to rust, these varieties maintain a high yield potential, which is crucial for ensuring food security.
Disease Resistance: In addition to rust resistance, these varieties often have resistance to other diseases, enhancing their overall robustness.
Tolerance to Environmental Stresses: These varieties are often bred to be tolerant to various environmental stresses such as drought, further enhancing their resilience.
Rust-resistant wheat varieties help mitigate the effects of climate change on wheat production by providing resistance to rust diseases, which are exacerbated by changing climate conditions. This contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger (SDG 2) by increasing food security, Gender Equality (SDG 5) by empowering women in farming decisions, and Climate Action (SDG 13) by developing crops resilient to climate change.
The adoption of rust-resistant wheat varieties by farmers in a project or program involves several key activities:
These activities are not necessarily sequential and may overlap. The exact chronogram would depend on the specific context and resources of the project or program.
average grain yield
Total farming operational costs
Country | Testing ongoing | Tested | Adopted |
---|---|---|---|
Ethiopia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Kenya | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Mozambique | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Somalia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
South Africa | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Sudan | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Tanzania | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Uganda | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Zambia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Zimbabwe | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.
AEZ | Subtropic - warm | Subtropic - cool | Tropic - warm | Tropic - cool |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arid | ||||
Semiarid | ||||
Subhumid | – | – | – | – |
Humid | – | – | – | – |
Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.
Verification and Adaptation Trials:
Accelerated Seed Multiplication in Outbreaks:
Seed Multiplication Process:
Production of Early-Generation Seed:
Multiplication on Farms:
In-Field Techniques for Maintaining Planting Material:
Crop Cultivation:
Fungicide Spraying:
Last updated on 22 May 2024