Project Number: 3640-21220-021-13
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2012
End Date: Aug 31, 2014

Objective:
Duplicate critical stem rust isolates for backup and off-site storage, and establish and maintain stem rust sentinel plots in Arizona and California for Ug99 surveillance in the United States.

Approach:
A part-time technical position will be established to duplicate critical stem rust isolates to be stored at an off-site location for backup and long-term storage. This involves reviving stem rust isolates currently housed in the USDA, ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory liquid nitrogen storage, increasing to adequate amounts, assigning proper race names by testing differentials of new North American stem rust nomenclature, and moving to a long-term storage space. Stem rust sentinel plots in Arizona and California will be established in conjunction with the winter nursery increase of wheat by co-operators. Universal susceptible varieties, as well as critical resistant lines to be planted, and maintained during crop season, rust infections will be recorded during the growing season, and samples will be collected and forwarded to USDA, ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory for race analysis. Regular communications will be maintained via conference calls and e-mail.