Meeting the Challenge of Yellow Rust in Cereal Crops - ICARDA

398
Development of wheat stripe [yellow] rust in Georgia
Z. Sikharulidze and K. Natsarishvili
Institute of Plant Immunity, Kobuleti, Georgia
Disease surveys are useful means to provide information on the prevalent
diseases of crops and their distribution in space according to their incidence
and severity. Wheat fields were investigated by Institute of Plant Immunity
(IPI) staff in different geographical zones of Georgia at every critical stage of
plant disease development. In 2009, rust researchers participated in the Global
Rust Monitoring System. The location of the fields investigated (latitude,
longitude) and elevation were determined by GPS. The elevation of
investigated fields differed considerably from each other, from 427 masl
(Marneuli region) to 1744 masl (Akhalkalaki region). During May, June and
July four expeditions were carried out in ten regions of five zones (Imeretis
Maglobi, Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli, Samtskhe and Dzhavakheti) and 40
wheat fields were investigated. Incidence and severity of stripe [yellow] rust
were determined in farmer fields and private plots (roadsides). Mainly cv.
Bezostaya 1 was planted. According to the survey results, stripe rust in
comparison with other rust species was the most widely distributed disease. It
was distributed in the nearly all zones. In Kvemo Kartli and Shida Kartli zones,
stripe rust had reached moderate severity by the end of May, mainly on cv.
Bezostaya 1, when plants were in early milk ripe stage. High incidence and
severity of the disease was reached in the irrigated Marneuli region, differing
from Khashuri and Tetritskharo rainfed regions, where severity was low or
medium. Later, stripe rust was recorded in Samtskhe and Dzhavakheti zones,
which are located above the other zones and consequently disease
development was later in these zones. In Akhaltsikhe (Samtskhe) and
Akhalkalaki (Dzhavakheti) regions, stripe rust occurred at the end of July and
its incidence varied from traces to 80%. High severity of stripe rust was found
on cvs Bezostaya 1 and Lomtagora. Armenian cv. Armenikum, which was
sown in farm fields in Akhalkalaki region, was not infected by stripe rust.