Evaluation of Management Tools for Stripe Rust in Hard Red Spring Wheat and Assessment of Virulence Phenotypes and Aggressiveness in Puccinia striiformis Isolates
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Abstract
Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is an economically important foliar disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum). In the last decade, losses from stripe rust in North Dakota (ND) have increased, peaking at 5% in 2015. Three research studies were conducted to address questions on the pathogen, varietal resistance, and integrated management. The objective of the first study was to (i) identify virulent phenotypes of Pst isolates collected from ND from 2015 to 2017 and assign races, and (ii) determine the effect of temperature on in vitro urediniospore germination, latency, and lesion spread. Across the three years, five races were detected with PSTv 37 being the most common. The highest urediniospore germination occurred at 12oC followed by 16oC. Pst isolates had shorter latency at 21oC and larger lesion spread at 16oC. The objective of the second study was to evaluate seedling resistance and adult plant resistance in the North Dakota State University spring wheat breeding program using races PSTv 37 and PSTv 52. Results from seedling experiments indicated only four and two lines were resistant to PSTv 52 and PSTv 37, respectively. Adult plant resistance experiments were unsuccessful in 2019, and will be conducted again in the future. The objective of the third study was to develop fungicide timing recommendations for wheat rust (stripe and leaf) based on varietal resistance and time of disease onset. Rust developed in five of the eight field trials, and timing of disease onset was categorized by growth stage (tillering, flag leaf, or early-flowering). Results indicated fungicide application timing was influenced by timing of disease onset and varietal resistance. When rust was detected at the tillering growth stage on the susceptible variety, the best time to apply a fungicide was at Feekes 9. When rust was detected at flag leaf or beyond on a susceptible variety, a fungicide application at Feekes 10.51 provided the adequate disease reduction and protection of yield. Results from these research studies provide a better understanding of Pst, determined seedling resistance in the breeding program, and provides field data to refine management recommendations for wheat rusts in ND.