- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Published on: May 19, 2014
Every few years, when weather conditions are just right, California wheat farmers suffer devastating outbreaks of stripe rust, a fungal infection that can rob up to 50 percent of the crop's yield. Rust spores are typically carried on the wind from infected volunteer cereal plants and come to rest on the leaves of wheat, triticale and other cereal crops. The fungi grow just under the plant epidermis and tiny structures penetrate the plant to very harmful effect.
Serious stripe rust epidemics periodically claim the yield of grain growing around the world, including many places where a crop failure can mean widespread hunger in a local population.
Over time, researchers, plant breeders and farmers have found the best way to...
Tags: Steve Wright (1), stripe rust (1)
Comments: 0
Viewing -3--3 of 1