Leaf Rust: A Serious Disease of Wheat in Pakistan

Abstract

Wheat is one of the major crops and also staple food of many areas. It fulfils the basic nutrition requirements of people. Demand of food in directly proportional to increasing number of populations. But most of the time yield is decreased due to attack of diseases. Wheat leaf rust is a common disease of wheat and cause 50% losses in yield. Leaf rust is cause by fungi named Puccinia triticina. Pathogen mostly attack on leaf blade and cause damage. Pathogen spores travel through wind and can spread on wide area. Many molecular studies have been for identification of resistant gene in cultivated and wild species to boost up the immunity of cultivated species against disease. For the purpose of genetic dissection scientist used molecular techniques like MAS and gene pyramiding, they used markers for identification of resistant genes. Scientists got success in their findings and identified many resistant gene in wild and cultivated varieties of wheat. Use of these genes will be helpful in breeding programs for the development of resistant varieties and to make increase in production.