AN OVERVIEW OF COMPARISON BETWEEN WHEAT RUSTS MYCOFLORA IN INDIA WITH GLOBAL SCENARIO

Abstract

Wheat rusts are the oldest plant disease known to human and caused by Puccinia species. Puccinia species are the main constraints in wheat production wherever wheat is grown. Early literatures mention these devastating diseases and their ability to destroy entire wheat crops. These wheat rust pathogens are highly transmissible through air current in both cases, primary and secondary infections. Primary infection occur through alternate host developing spore (Aeciospores) and secondary infection caused by wheat (primary host) developing spore (Uredospores). Secondary infection results epidemics, several time as globally occurrence. Ecologically, the persistence of rusts as a significant disease in wheat can be attributed to specific characteristics of the rust mycoflora. Their ability to spread aerially over the large distance, production of urediospores in enormous number and evolving new pathotypes, makes the management of wheat rusts a very daunting task. These characteristics include a capacity to produce a large number of spores which can be wind disseminated over long distances and infect wheat under favorable environmental conditions and the ability to change genetically, thereby producing new races with increased aggressiveness on resistant wheat cultivars. KEY WORDS: Wheat Rust, Puccinia, Rust Mycoflora, Stem Rust, Leaf Rust, Stripe Rust