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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Cereal Disease Lab » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305990
Title: Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in the United States in 2013

Author
item Kolmer, James
item Hughes, Mark

Submitted to: Wheat Newsletter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2014
Publication Date: 9/1/2015
Citation: Kolmer, J.A., Hughes, M.E. 2015. Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in the United States in 2013. Wheat Newsletter. 99:1261-1267.

Interpretive Summary: Wheat is attacked by the rust fungus called Puccinia triticina, which causes the leaf rust disease. Leaf rust is the most widespread and common disease of wheat in the United States. In 2013 leaf rust was found across the United States from the Great Plains to the eastern seaboard. Cool and dry conditions in the Great Plains region limited the spread of the disease. Losses in wheat due to leaf rust were low in 2013, with losses of 1-2% in eight different states, and negligible losses in other states.

Technical Abstract: In 2013 wheat leaf rust was widely distributed across the U.S. from the Great Plains to the east coast, but was generally found at low levels. Cool spring weather in the Great Plains and eastern states delayed small grain development, planting and field work. In late May, wheat leaf rust was at atypically low levels for that time of year, particularly in the southern and central Great Plains. Inoculum levels from Texas into the central and northern Great Plains were low due to cooler spring temperatures, dry conditions and the application of fungicides. Races with virulence to both Lr39/41 that is present in many hard red winter wheat cultivars grown from Texas to Kansas, and Lr21 that is in many hard red spring wheat cultivars, were present in Texas and Minnesota. Races with virulence to Lr3ka, Lr11, Lr26, and Lr18 were most common in the soft red winter wheat areas of the Southeastern states and Ohio Valley. In the hard red wheat area of the southern and northern Great Plains races with virulence to Lr24, Lr17, Lr21, and Lr39/41 were the most common. Estimated losses in wheat due to leaf rust of 1- 2% occurred in NC, SC, MS, MO, WI, IL, IN, and LA with trace level of losses in other states.