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LOCAL STEM RUST VIRULENCE IN PAKISTAN AND FUTURE BREEDING STRATEGY

MIRZA JAVED IQBAL, IFTIKHAR AHMAD, KHALIL AHMAD KHANZADA¹, NAVEED AHMAD, ATIQ-UR-REHMAN RATTU, MUHAMMAD FAYYAZ, YASMIN AHMAD, A.A. HAKRO AND ABDUL MUJEEB KAZI²

Abstract: Evolution and spread of stem rust race Ug-99 has created an alarming global situation. Majority of the CIMMYT germplasm protected by gene Sr31 fell susceptible to this catastrophic strain. Like other parts of the world stem rust of wheat was very successfully controlled in Pakistan by the introduction of resistant germplasm during and after green revolution. In 2001 stem rust reappeared and hit many commercial varieties in the province of Sindh. Its sporadic infections were recorded in 2005 summer crop of Kaghan followed by 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 spring crops of Sindh. In a regional scenario, where by wheat crop of the whole CWANA region was threatened by the Ug-99, it was thought that the crop is attacked by Ug-99. To date data from the stem rust TRAP nurseries and analysis of the disease samples is presented here to clarify the situation about presence/absence of Ug-99 in Pakistan. Commercial cultivars resistant to local stem rust race and genes effective against local and Ug-99 races are identified and their implications to improve stem rust resistance of Pakistani cultivars are discussed.

Crop Diseases Research Program, Institute of Plant and Environmental Protection, National Agricultural Research Centre, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Park Road Islamabad, Pakistan

¹Crop Diseases Research Institute, PARC, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270

²Wheat Wide Cross Lab, NARC, Park Road Islamabad, Pakistan.