It deals with importance and management of yellow rust of wheat in India

1. Introduction
Yellow rust of wheat (Triticum aestivum, T. durum, T. dicoccum) and Triticale caused by
Puccinia striiformis Westend. is one of the important diseases of wheat in India. In North
Indian states it spreads quite fast due to favourable temperature and moisture prevailing in
these states during major part of crop growth (November-mid March). In spite of favourable
weather, proactive survey and surveillance and advisories issued in time resulted
successful management of yellow rust in India during past four decades. Even large scale
cultivation of varieties like HD 2967 in about 12 million ha past two years could not result
any losses.
Materials and Methods
The spots getting initial foci near foot hills in Punjab have been identified and are monitored
regularly (Fig. 1). Any sign of yellow rust is controlled effectively with the foliar sprays of
fungicides like propiconazole @ 0.1%. Use of mobiles phones and internet services is
regularly done for transfer of information on wheat crop health and suggesting the proper
management. Strategic planning and sowing of wheat in which newly released high yielding
yellow rust varieties helped in reducing the yellow rust inoculum build up. Regular
monitoring of wheat health vis a vis weather forecast after every fortnight from December to
March. The entries of wheat and Triticale of yield trials (Station trials, National initial
varietal trial, Advanced varietal trial) were evaluated under artificially inoculated conditions
at hot spot locations (Jammu, Daulakuan, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Karnal, Hisar, New Delhi,
Durgapura and Pantnagar). The entries having average coefficient of infection (ACI) up to
15 were promoted in yield trials and identified for release as varieties. The seedling resistant
tests were done against major pathotypes of yellow rust at IIWBR Rs Flowerdale Shimla.
The genotypes showed consistent resistant score limit of ACI 10 for four crop season were
shared with wheat and Triticale breeders art 32 centres along with passport data for their
use in breeding for yellow rust resistance.
Plant Pathological Screening Nursery (Entries: 1156 Nos.)
Pathological Screening Nursery (Entries: 409 Nos.)
Elite Pathological Screening Nursery (Entries: 51 Nos.)
The flow of material in yield trials (2017-19 crop season)
Results
During 2016-17 crop season, yellow rust was effectively managed and its occurrence was
delayed in Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand states. Two new pathotypes, 110S 119 and
110S 84 developed recently were used for evaluation of entries of wheat yield trials during
2016-17 at hot spot locations. The new varieties in pipe line of identification and release are
tested against yellow rust. The most critical period for yellow rust management remained
from December till mid February.
Discussion
The occurrence of new pathotypes of yellow rust is a major cause of worry to successful
wheat cultivation in North Indian states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan (13.59 million ha). The
early occurrence of yellow rust in the month of December may cause complete failure in
Punjab, parts of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Jammu and plains of Himachal Pradesh. So far the
strategy to test new varieties in pipeline for release and early replacement of susceptible
varieties, cultivation of 5-6 numbers of varieties in a village and district has kept the disease
under control and avoided epidemics in India. The deployment of resistance have saved at
least 5% yield losses (2.678 million tons) thus generated a profit of Indian ₹ 49933 millions
(4993 crores) annually.
Crop year Date of first appearance of yellow rust
2011-12 28th
December, 2011
2012-13 9th
January, 2013
2013-14 6th
January, 2014
2014-15 23rd
December, 2014
2015-16 18th
December, 2015
2016-17 30th
December, 2016
2017-18 9th
January, 2018
Status and strategies for averting the threat of yellow rust
(Puccinia striiformis Westend.) in North Indian states
D. P. Singh*, Sudheer Kumar, P.L. Kashyap and Gyanendra Pratap Singh
ICAR- Indian Institute of Wheat & Barley Research, Karnal 132 001, India
*Devendra.Singh@icar.gov.in
Variety Yellow rust resistant genes Agro climatic zone
HD 2967 Yr2+ North Western Plains Zone
HD 3086 Yr2+
DBW 88 YrA+
WH 1105 Yr2+
DBW 173 Yr9+A+
Northern Hills Zone
HPW 251 Yr9+
HS 542 Yr2+
VL 829 Yr9+18+
Yellow rust resistant genes in popular cultivars
First occurrence of yellow rust in North Western Plain Zones in India over years
Yellow rust spread path in India (Courtesy Dr. Jaspal)
Acknowledgement
Thanks To Indian Council of Agricultural Research for facilities provided and organizers (BGRI, Cornell university, ICARDA and Satguru
consultants) for facilitating participation in BGRI 1018 Technical Workshop.