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denser stands resulting from improved production<br />
technology, it is almost certain that<br />
the hazard from rusts and other diseases will<br />
increase. Better disease resistance will be<br />
required in the forthcoming new varieties.<br />
During the past season preliminary studies<br />
were made on rust (and other diseases) epidemology.<br />
Both stem and leaf rust were observed<br />
to be multiplying from natural infection<br />
by mid-January.<br />
The January daytime temperatures were<br />
apparently adequate during the months on<br />
January and February for increase bpth pathogens.<br />
Stripe rust from natural infection, for<br />
some unexplicable reason, was not observed<br />
until early March. The development of both<br />
stem and leaf rust was first found in southern<br />
Tunisia and at the INRAT station in Tunis.<br />
The observed movement of both stem and leaf<br />
rust infection and spore movement appeared<br />
to be from south to north. Preliminary inoculum<br />
apparently comes from spores persisting<br />
locally throughout the summer on isolated volunteer<br />
wheat plants. These observations are<br />
contrary to the former belief that the early<br />
infection came from inblown inoculum from<br />
Europe.<br />
Severe artificial epidemics of stem, leaf and<br />
stripe rusts were developed in the breeding<br />
plots of both Tunis and Sou Salem. Artif.icial<br />
inoculation and periodic sprinkling contributed<br />
to developing severe epidemics, that were<br />
ideal for selecting for resistance to the three<br />
rusts. Selection for resistance to mildew was<br />
possible at times. Septoria develops well in<br />
the Beja area where a large number of F 2 populations<br />
were grown. In the future this area<br />
with cool temperatures combined with aprecipitation<br />
of 600 mm Will be used to select and<br />
screen for resistance to Septoria.<br />
Insects<br />
The insects which "ose problems for Tunisian<br />
wheat production are in order of decreasing<br />
importance: Hessian fly, sawfly, ~ereat<br />
leaf beetle, wirewo~m, stem maggot and ants.<br />
General infestations of Hessian fly, and cereal<br />
leaf beetles, and light attacks of sawfly and<br />
stem maggot were observedio at/fieldS. •<br />
The Hessian fly w~s -general' throuQhotit<br />
the wheat area with infestations in"oom~rclaJ'<br />
fields estimated at between 5to '50 percent.<br />
Cereal leaf beetle was especially heavy in the<br />
Bou Salem area, but caused only 'moderate loss<br />
because of the lateness o,f the infestation.<br />
Wireworms caused heavy local loss in isolated<br />
local areas where the culture was wheat following<br />
wheat. A large black ant in some areas<br />
has been observed causing considerable damage.<br />
It removes the ripening grain from the<br />
head and transports it away. Birds are a serious<br />
pest in some areas, and especially on<br />
early maturing fields.<br />
MOROCCO<br />
Morocco, once a regular exporter of wheat,<br />
must now import wheat in order to feed its<br />
people. Annual production prior to 1967-68<br />
averaged 1.2 million metric tons obtained from<br />
slightly less than 2.0 million hectares.<br />
Approximately 3/4 of the area is sown to<br />
durum wheats and the remainder to bread<br />
wheats. During the last three seasons, 1967<br />
70,favorable weather conditions have resulted<br />
in higher levels of production. Nevertheless,<br />
because of population pressures Morocco<br />
must still import approximately 100,000 tons<br />
of bread wheat this year.<br />
Recognizing this problem the Moroccan<br />
Ministry of A~ricultufe has given ,tpp priority<br />
to increasing cereal production. An Agricultural<br />
Investment Code which was announced<br />
in July 1969 encourages farmers to improve<br />
cereal production practices through a program<br />
of research, extension credit and subsidies.<br />
'The Cereal Improvement Project which is<br />
a joint' activity of the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture,<br />
U.S. AID, <strong>CIMMYT</strong> and the Near East<br />
Foundation, will be the principal vehicle used<br />
to attain the target of a 50% tncrease in anmlal<br />
production by 1914. Although the last<br />
crop season was the third since the project<br />
was started, it was only Jhe first year, with a<br />
>fult team of scienHsts available to -cOnduct a<br />
compiete -experimental' ahd ,demonstration pro-<br />
,gram. .<br />
Two ClMMYT technicians, Dr: William Hall<br />
and, Dr. Ari~teo Acosta, who diC! not arrive<br />
until September and November respectively,<br />
were' nevertheless able to execute nearly all<br />
of their pianned research program for the<br />
101
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