Stripe rust caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis has devastated cereal production worldwide due to rapid systemic infection of affected plants resulting in defoliation and shrivelled kernels. This is primarily a disease of cool climates and has been found in southern Alberta and British Columbia for many years. Recently, stripe rust prevalence in wheat has increased in central Alberta, and infection on barley and triticale breeding plots has also being observed. This disease has frequently been found in western Saskatchewan and occasionally in the eastern Prairies, causing substantial losses in some wheat fields.  Research is being conducted on pathogen survival, spread and disease development. This paper reports the preliminary results of a survey of stripe rust in central Alberta and updates the progress in screening for disease resistance.

Download the PDF file for the full paper from the Agronomy Update 2008 conference proceedings