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ARS Home » Research » Research Project #429497

Research Project: Identifying New Genetic Sources and Evaluating United States Wheat Germplasm for Resistance to Stem Rust in Eastern Africa

Location: National Programs

Project Number: 0500-00082-001-003-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: May 28, 2015
End Date: May 27, 2020

Objective:
Determine the reaction of U.S. wheat cultivars and germplasm to newly detected races of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (the causal fungus of stem rust) in Eastern Africa.

Approach:
The purpose of this research is to obtain stem rust evaluations on presently grown cultivars, newly released cultivars, advanced experimental lines, and the North American stem rust differentials to potentially damaging Pgt races. To evaluate the material to a range of Pgt races, these evaluations are to be conducted in the field at two locations in eastern Africa. This funding is for evaluating 3,000 winter lines in the main season and evaluating 3,000 spring lines in the “off-season”, these 3,000 springs would include 1,500 spring lines in Kenya and 1,500 in Ethiopia. Because CIMMYT has a world wide mandate to improve wheat, as well as extensive experience in evaluating experimental wheat lines for disease resistance, it is logical that the USDA/ARS and State Experiment Stations collaborate with CIMMYT on this evaluation protocol.