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Stem rust
Puccinia graminis
General Description
Stem rust, or black stem rust is a major wheat disease which fortunately causes no immediate threat to UK crops. A new strain has however spread across east Africa, then across to Yemen and into Sudan. There is a mjaor threat in these countries since the strain can break through many existing varietal resistances.
In the UK, outbreaks have occurred in the past in the south and south west of England, but it usually comes in late, causing little damage. There have been no reports of the disease further north.
A new stem rust strain called Ug99 appeared in Uganda 1999 and it is a threat to current wheat varieties, since it can break through the varietal resistance present in many wheat varieties. If a world epidemic does occur, there will b e a greater risk of airborne spores reaching the UK from mainland Europe and it is anticipated UK varieties would be susceptible to it. With a move to warmer summers, it is possible several factors could come together to make the disease become more common. Since it is well controlled with fungicides with activity against yellow and brown rust, it is likely to remain more of a curiosity compared to the current major UK rust threats.
Although stem rust is commony associated with wheat, there are strains which can attack other cereals, incuding oats,barley rye and grasses.