The document summarizes a study on the response of 10 wheat genotypes to yellow rust disease and the epidemiology of the disease in Baglung, Nepal from 2008-2009. At 99 days after sowing, genotypes WK1182, WK1204, WK1505, BL2879 and PasangLhamu showed the most resistance to yellow rust with a rating of 10R, while Morocco was the most susceptible with a rating of 100S. WK1204 and PasangLhamu had the lowest increase in area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and the highest grain yields. The study found that relative humidity and temperature affected yellow rust severity and that cultivating genotypes like WK1204

1. 95J. Inst. Agric.Anim. Sci. 31: 95 - 103 (2010)
Research Article
RESPONSE OF WHEAT GENOTYPES AGAINST YELLOW RUST (Puccinia striiformis f. sp.
tritici) AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE DISEASE IN FIELD AT BAGLUNG
S. Adhikari1
, S.M. Shrestha1
, S. Sharma2
and G.B. Khatri-Chhetri1
.
1
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal
2
Plant Pathology Division, NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
ABSTRACT
Response of 10 wheat genotypes (WK1182, WK1204, WK1505, BL2879, PasangLhamu, Morocco,
WK1123, NL297, BL1473, WK1320) against yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) and
epidemiology of the disease were studied in a farmer’s field at Baglung, Nepal, from November 2008 to
March 2009. One factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with three replications.
Seeds were sown on 26th
November, 2008 continuously in one line, 10 cm apart. Disease was scored 3
times at an interval of 7 days starting 85 days after sowing. At 99 days after sowing, WK1182, WK1204,
WK1505, BL2879 and PasangLhamu showed a more resistant response against the yellow rust.
Minimum increment of area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) was found in genotypes WK1204
(6.07), followed by WK1505 (6.65) within 2 weeks (from 85DAS to 99DAS). The varieties
PasangLhamu (4075kg/ha) and WK1204 (4057kg/ha) showed maximum grain yield whereas
PasangLhamu and WK1204 showed higher disease resistance (5R) at booting stage .The yellow rust
severity (DS) positively affected by 96 % of AUDPC of Morocco. Daily mean relative humidity and
daily mean maximum temperature positively affected by 92% and negatively by 69% of AUDPC in
Morocco. Cultivation of the wheat genotypes WK1204 and PasangLamhu seem good in mitigating the
yellow rust problem in Baglung and similar ecological zones of Nepal.
Key Words: Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, Triticum aestivum, resistance
INTRODUCTION
Yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend f. sp. tritici) is a major disease of wheat (Triticum
aestivum L) in many wheat growing areas of the world (Roelfs et al., 1992).
The disease is also an important disease in hills of Nepal especially Kathmandu, Bhaktapur,
Dolakha, Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts (Sharma et al., 2007). It is also reported
in Baglung, Parvat and Myagdi. Recently the pathogen Yr27 virulence was also confirmed in SAARC
region. In mid-eighties, resistant of variety RR21 was broken down due to occurrence of 7E150 race
(Sharma et al., 1995). Sharma (2001) reported Nepalese wheat genotypes (Annapurna 1, Annapurna 3
and Annapurna 4 and Kanti withYr9 gene) susceptible to the disease. The race 46S119 is reported in
Baglung, Parbat and Myagdi districts. Virulence for Yr27 in Nepal was also confirmed. Several genes
were utilized in the past, especially Lr34 complex and Sr31, linked with Yr9 and Lr26, for rust resistance.
In the past, laboratory analysis of rust was done in research Institute of Plant Protection (IPO),
Wageningen, Netherland, now it is done in Shimla rust laboratory or CIMMYT/Regional/Nepal Office.
In hills of Nepal yellow rust has been a great threat to wheat cultivation (Karki and Sharma, 1990).
Yellow rust was epidemic in hill of Nepal during 1980s. A susceptible cultivar could sustain a total loss
when environmental conditions were favorable for disease (Chen, 2005).
Molecular markers to tease apart the contributions of partial resistance are tool for overcoming
the threat of this disease. The effects of moderate resistance can be additive and combined to provide
near immunity (Angus and Fenwick, 2008; Afzal et al., 2009).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental Site
The experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field of Pourhouse village and Baglung district
(Figure 1a) from November 2008 to March 2009. The field was laid out in one factor’s Randomized
Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. There were 10 different wheat genotypes (NL297,
Morocco, WK1123, WK1182, BL2879, WK1505, PasangLhamu, WK1204, BL1473 and WK1320)

2. 96 Adhikari et al.
during winter season, 2008 and 2009
S.N. Genotypes Parentage
1
2
3
4
NL297
Morocco
WK1123
WK1182
HD2137/HD2186//HD2160
Morocco
87 ZHONG 215/WK686
CMH83.2578/WK685
5
6
7
8
9
BL2879
WK1505
PasangLhamu
WK1204
BL1473
LGP71AB(WG)/NL759//NL781
NC97B2725-22B-020B-020B-1B-0B
3BW27/G4M-1M-6,4-3-1-1-2//RR21
KC1277-9K-1K-1K-2K-2K
PAPAGO/SERI
MBW91Y01627S-13Y-010M-010Y-010M-3Y-0M
NEPAL297/NL352
Nepal 297/NL352
10 WK1320 87ZHONG212/WK685
Table 1. Wheat genotypes with their parentage grown in experimental field at Baglung
Agronomical Characters
Height of the sample plants was measured from the base of the plant to the tip of the spike except
awn. Number of tillers of the plants was counted at the time of harvesting in each plot. Thousand kernels
weight (g) and grain yield (kg/ha) were taken at 12 % moisture level of the grains.
Data Analysis
The data were statistically analyzed with the help of MSTATC programme. The means of the observed
characters were compared by using LSD at the 5% level of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Response of Wheat Genotypes to Yellow Rust
The 10 wheat genotypes differed considerably in resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici
(Table 2). At 99 days after sowing (i. e. on 5th
March, 2009), the genotypes WK1182, WK1204, WK1505,
BL2879 and PasangLhamu showed minimum disease (10R) (Table 2), when the standard susceptible
check “Morocco” showed highest (100S) disease response in the same field. Plant pathology division
(PPD, 2007) reported that WK1204 and PasangLhamu were resistant to yellow rust. Similar reaction
with different varieties was found by Karki et al. (2004) and reported that yellow rust epidemic was more
in western hills of Nepal since mid 90’s.

3. 97
during winter season, 2008 and 2009
S.N. Genotypes Parentage
1
2
3
4
NL297
Morocco
WK1123
WK1182
HD2137/HD2186//HD2160
Morocco
87 ZHONG 215/WK686
CMH83.2578/WK685
5
6
7
8
9
BL2879
WK1505
PasangLhamu
WK1204
BL1473
LGP71AB(WG)/NL759//NL781
NC97B2725-22B-020B-020B-1B-0B
3BW27/G4M-1M-6,4-3-1-1-2//RR21
KC1277-9K-1K-1K-2K-2K
PAPAGO/SERI
MBW91Y01627S-13Y-010M-010Y-010M-3Y-0M
NEPAL297/NL352
Nepal 297/NL352
10 WK1320 87ZHONG212/WK685
Table 1. Wheat genotypes with their parentage grown in experimental field at Baglung
J. Inst. Agric.Anim. Sci. 31: 95 - 103 (2010)
Agronomical Characters
Height of the sample plants was measured from the base of the plant to the tip of the spike except
awn. Number of tillers of the plants was counted at the time of harvesting in each plot. Thousand kernels
weight (g) and grain yield (kg/ha) were taken at 12 % moisture level of the grains.
Data Analysis
The data were statistically analyzed with the help of MSTATC programme. The means of the observed
characters were compared by using LSD at the 5% level of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Response of Wheat Genotypes to Yellow Rust
The 10 wheat genotypes differed considerably in resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici
(Table 2). At 99 days after sowing (i. e. on 5th
March, 2009), the genotypes WK1182, WK1204, WK1505,
BL2879 and PasangLhamu showed minimum disease (10R) (Table 2), when the standard susceptible
check “Morocco” showed highest (100S) disease response in the same field. Plant pathology division
(PPD, 2007) reported that WK1204 and PasangLhamu were resistant to yellow rust. Similar reaction
with different varieties was found by Karki et al. (2004) and reported that yellow rust epidemic was more
in western hills of Nepal since mid 90’s.

4. 98 Adhikari et al.
Table 2. Response of wheat genotypes to yellow rust in field at Baglung during winter season
of 2008 and 2009
Genotypes Parentage Response to
yellow rust
(99DAS)
NL297
Morocco
WK1123
WK1182
HD2137/HD2186//HD2160
Morocco
87 ZHONG 215/WK686
CMH83.2578/WK685
60S
100S
20R
10R
BL2879
WK1505
PasangLhamu
WK1204
BL1473
LGP71AB(WG)/NL759//NL781
NC97B2725-22B-020B-020B-1B-0B
3BW27/G4M-1M-6,4-3-1-1-2//RR21
KC1277-9K-1K-1K-2K-2K
PAPAGO/SER
MBW91Y01627S-13Y-010M-010Y-010M-3Y-0M
NEPAL297/NL352
Nepal 297/NL352
10R
10R
10R
10R
WK1320 87ZHONG212/WK685 20MR
Area Under Disease Progress Curve of Wheat Genotypes
Minimum increment of area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) was found in genotypes
WK1204 (6.07), followed by WK1505 (6.65).The AUDPC increment of WK1123 (7.76), WK1182
(7.85) and BL2879 (7.00) was in constant trend. Maximum AUDPC increment was found in
Morocco (226.68), followed by NL297 (181.77) as in figure 2.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
85 92 99
Days after sowing
AUDPCvalue
NL297
morroco
WK1123
WK1182
BL2879
WK1505
Pasang
WK1204
Bl1473
WK1320
Fig. 2. Yellow rust disease progress in 10 wheat genotypes in field at Baglung during winter season
of 2008 and 2009.
Disease Severity at Different Growth Stages of Wheat
Genotypes WK1182, WK1505, BL2879, PasangLhamu and WK1204 showed 10R at dough and
severity at booting stages, respectively in (Figure 3). (Sharma et al., 2007) supported by th
PasangLhamu and WK 1204 were resistant against yellow rust in the hills of Nepal. Highest disea
(100S) was recorded at soft dough (GS85) and lowest (20S) at booting stage (GS45) in Morocco a
NL297 showed disease severities 60S, 30MS in the respective growth stage.

5. 99
Fig. 3. Yellow rust severity at different growth stages of wheat in field at Baglung during winter season o
2008 and 2009.
Disease Severity and AUDPC in Morocco
The yellow rust severity affected by 96 % of AUDPC in Morocco (Figure 4). The effects of plan
resistance on yellow rust disease progress of wheat can be evaluated using AUDPC (Emge et al., 1976)
Disease severity (DS) measured at different time can be used to determine the AUDPC (Wilcoxon et al.
1975; Daniel, 1994). Daniel (1994) showed high correlation between DS and AUDPC. Observation date
affect the disease progress (Daniel, 1994). Ali et al. (2008) reported that assessment of partial resistanc
can be made by final rust severity (FRS) (Parlevliet, 1985), area under rust progress curve (ARUPC
(Wilcoxson et al., 1975) and co-efficient of infection (CI) (Pathan and Park, 2006)
Fig. 4. Relationship of disease severity and area under disease progress curve in Morocco at Baglung
during winter season 2008 and 2009.
AUDPC
Disease severity
J. Inst. Agric.Anim. Sci. 31: 95 - 103 (2010)

6. 100
Interaction of Disease With Agronomic Traits
The wheat genotypes PasangLhamu and WK1204 showed minimum AUDPC, 26.60 and 18.38, with
maximum grain yield 4075 kg/ha and 4057 kg/ha, respectively (Table 3). Highest thousand kernels weight was
found in PasangLhamu (45.267), followed by BL2879 (44.333)
, WK1182 (43.77) and WK1204 (43.57). The
genotype maximumAUDPC showed in Morocco (1379) followed by NL297 (810.3) and then BL1473 (573.4).
Rest of the genotypes (WK1123,WK1182, BL2879, and WK1505) showed similar type ofAUDPC. Maximum
tiller number was found in PasangLhamu (3.50), followed by WK1204 (3.26), BL2879 (3.20), NL297 (3.16)
and WK1505 (3.10). All others had the value below 3, with lowest in WK1182 (2.46) and Morocco (2.50).
The wheat genotype WK1204 showed the maximum plant height i.e. 111.6 cm, followed by WK1182, BL2879,
WK1505, PasangLhamu and BL1473.
g g g
Genotypes AUDPC Tiller
(No).
Plant
height
(cm)
Thousand
kernels
weight (g)
Grain
yield
(kg/ha)
NL297 810.3b
3.167a b
92.97bcd
31.33c
1069.e
Morocco 1379.a
2.500b
87.48d
29.67c
1043. e
WK1123 25.75de
2.733ab
100.5abcd
37b
3353.cd
WK1182 24.00de
2.467b
103.5abc
43.77a
3821.ab
BL2879 39.55de
3.2ab
102.8abc
44.333a
3650.bc
WK1505 31.62de
3.100ab
104.4abc
42.033a
3981.ab
PasangLhamu 26.60de
3.500a
106.333ab
45.267a
4075.a
WK1204 18.38e
3.267a
111.6a
43.57a
4057.a
BL1473 573.4c
2.633b
104.3abc
35.67c
3218.d
WK1320 60.90d
2.600b
91.39cd
35.70c
3145.d
b
LSD0.05
CV
SEM
Significance
37.49
7.31%
477.52
**
0.0501
14.11%
0.170
*
12.1
7.02%
49.794
*
3.048
4.64%
3.157
**
338.9
6.29%
39030
**
Table 3. Interaction of yellow rust intensity with various agronomical traits of wheat genotypes
in field at Baglung during winter season of 2008 and 2009
CV= Coefficient of variation, LSD=Least significant difference, SEm =Standard error of mean difference,
**=Significant at 1% level, *=Significant at 5% level, ns= non-significant, figures in a column followed by the
same letter were not significantly different at 5 % level according to DMRT.
All the values were found to be significantly different. Doodson et al. (1964) reported that severely
infected plants with yellow rust were reducedin height by as much as 64.5 %. Stunting of plants is common
with severe early infections.
The reduced seed number and height of plants induced earlier maturity and resulted in decreased time
to fill the grain. Ali et al. (2007) found that Morocco having maximum relative area under rust progress
(AURPC) gave minimum grain yield (0.56 kg) in 7.5 m 2
area, while other wheat varieties having 33%, 25%
and 40% of AURPC produced 1.2 kg, 1.0 kg and 0.8 kg grain yield in the same area, respectively. Brown
(1996-2009) produced the relationship between per cent yield loss (YL) and per cent disease severity (DS) at
the end of anthesis to early berry growth stage which was established to be YL = 0.479DS + 0.84.
Adhikari et al.

7. 101
Daily means RH (%) Daily mean maximum temperature
0
AUDPC
Fig.5. Effect of A (daily daily mean maximum temperature), and B (relative humidity) on AUDPC of
Morocco in field at Baglung during winter season of 2008 and 2009.
Effect of Weather Factors and AUDPC on Genotype Morocco
In the wheat genotype Morocco, daily mean relative humidity had positive effect (92%) on AUDPC
(Figure 5A), and daily mean maximum temperature negatively affected theAUDPC by 69% (Figure 5 B). Te
Beest et al. (2008) reported that daily mean teperature in February to June, availability of initial inoculum and
resistance of cultivar affected disease epidemic and disease severity in U.K.
Losses will be less if the temperature during grain filling is higher than average, and loss from stripe
rust is also less if moisture stress affects grain development (Murray et al., 2005). The yellow rust disease was
found minimized at the field condition during 2007/2008 due to prolonged dry period, less rainfall and more
adoption of resistant varieties in Nepal (Sharma et al., 2007).
CONCLUSION
Among the 10 wheat genotypes evaluated against yellow rust, 6 genotypes (PasangLhamu, WK1204,
WK1505, WK1123, WK1182 and BL2879) were resistant, one moderately resistant (WK1320), one moderately
susceptible (BL1473) and two susceptible (Morocco and NL297) at Baglung. Minimum increment of area
under disease progress curve (AUDPC) was found in genotypes WK1204 (6.07) within 2 weeks. TheAUDPC
values were increased according to the disease severity increment of the wheat genotypes. Susceptible varieties
Morocco and NL297 showed highest AUDPC increment. Grain filling stage was more favorable for rust
epidemics, so it should be followed early planting to escape the disease. The Morocco and NL297 gave
maximum AUDPC and minimum grain yield, thousand kernels weight, plant height and tiller number. There
was a direct negative correlation betweenAUDPC and grain yield.CultivationofthewheatgenotypesWK1204
andPasangLamhuseemgoodinmitigatingtheyellowrustprobleminBaglungandsimilarecologicalzonesof
Nepal
J. Inst. Agric.Anim. Sci. 31: 95 - 103 (2010)

8. 102 Adhikari et al.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first author would like to express her gratitude to Institute of Agriculture and Animal
Science and Mrs. Sarala Sharma, Senior Scientist, Plant Pathology Division, Dr Dhruba Bahadur Thapa
Senior Scientist Agribotany Division and Mr. Madan Raj Bhatta, Senior Scientist, National Wheat
Research Centre Bhairahawa, Nepal Agriculture Research Council for their cordial support in this
research. We would also like to heartily thank to Nepal Agriculture Research and Development Fund
(NARDF) for funding her research expenses and CIMMYT/Nepal and Mr. Mohinder Prashar, Wheat
Pathologist, Directorate of Wheat Research Laboratory, Shimla for their help and support in article
writing.
REFERENCES CITED
Afzal, S. I. H., M. S. Ahmedani, M. Munir, S. S. Firdous, A. Rauf1, I. Ahmad, A. R. Rattu and M. Fayyaz.
2009. Resistance potential of wheat germplasm (Ttriticum aestivum l.) against stripe rust disease
under rainfed climate of Pakistan. Journal of Botany. 41: 1463-1475.
Ali, S., S. J. A. Shah and K. Maqbool. 2008. Field based assessment of partial resistance of yellow rust in
wheat germplasm. Journal of agriculture rural development. 6: 99-106.
Angus, W.J. and P.M. Fenwick. 2008, 23-24 January. Using genetic resistance to combat pest and disease
threats. pp, 21-27. In: Arable cropping in a changing climate. HGCA conference.
Brown, J.S. 1987. Sowing. Crop Protection. 6(3):157-160.
Chen, X. M. 2005. Epidemiology and control of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) on wheat.
Canada Journal of Plant Pathology. 27: 314-337.
Daniel, D. L. 1994. Aspect of durable resistance in wheat to yellow rust. 1p.
Das, M. K., S. Rajaram, C. C. Mundt and W. E. Kronstad. 1992. Inheritance of slow rusting resistance to
leaf rust in wheat. Crop Science. 32: 1452-1456.
Doodson, J. K., J. G. Manners and A. Myers. 1964. Some Effects of Yellow Rust (Puccinia striiformis) on the
Growth and Yield of a Spring Wheat. Annuals of Botany. 28: 459-472.
Emge, R. G and R. D. Shrum. 1976. Epiphytology of Puccinia striiformis at five selected locations in Oregon
during 1968 and 1969. Phytopathology. 66: 1406-1412.
Karki C.B and S.Sharma. 1990. Wheat Disease Report 1989-90. pp, 189-206. In: The proceeding of the
thirteen National Winter Crops Seminar (Wheat Reports), National Wheat Research Program,
Siddhartha Nagar, Nepal.
Karki C.B., S. Sharma and E. Duveiller.2004, March 22-26. Yellow rust of wheat in Nepal: An overview. Paper
presented at the 2nd
Regional Yellow Rust Conference, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Karki, C. B. 1998. Wheat disease report 1997-98. Paper presented at theWinter Crops Workshop, Wheat Research
Program, Siddhartha Nagar, Nepal.
MOAC. 2008. Statistical analysis information on Nepalese agriculture.Agribusiness promotion and statistical
division, HMG/N, Singha Durbar, KTMKathmandu, Nepal.
Murray, G., C. Wellings, S. Simpfendorfer and C. Cole. 2005. Stripe rust: Understanding the disease in wheat.
State of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.
NARC. 2004.AnnualReport2003-2004.PlantPathologyDivision,Khumaltar,Lalitpur.
NARC. PPD. 2007. Interaction on yellow rust disease in Nepal.AQuarterly Newsletter of NepalAgricultural
Research Council. 4:14.
Parlevliet, J.E and A.Van Ommeren. 1985. Race specific effects in major- genic and polygenic resistance of
barley to barley leaf rust in the field and how to distinguish them.Euphytica. 34:689-695.
Pathan, A. K and R. F. Park. 2006. Evaluation of seedling and adult plant resistance to leaf rust in European
wheat cultivars. Euphytica. 149:327-342.
Peterson, R.F., A.B. Campbell and A.E. Hannah. 1948. A diagrammatic scale for estimating rust intensity of
leaves and stem of cereals. Canada Journal Research. 26:496-500.

9. 103
Reynolds. L and D.A. Nehr. 1997. Statistical comparision of epidemics. In: Exercises in Plant Disease
Epidemiology. pp, 34-37. L. J. Francl and D.A. Neher, (eds). APS Press, St. Paul, MN, USA.
Roelfs, A.P., Singh, R.P. Singh and E.E. Saari., E.E. 1992. Rust diseases of wheat: concepts and methods of
disease management. Mexico, DF, CIMMYT, 81 p.
Rust Scoring Guide. Research Institute for Plant Protection/Netherlands and International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) Mexico.
Sharma, S. 1997. Virulence monitoring and detection of leaf and yellow rust resistance genes in Nepalese
wheat varieties. Directorate of wheat research, Regional Station Flowerdale Shimla, India.
Sharma, S. 2001. Yellow rust disease of wheat in western hills of Nepal. pp, 170-175. In: Proceeding of the
first SAS/N Convention. 1999. H.K. Manandhar, C.L. Shrestha, R.K. Shrestha and S.M. Pradhan.
Kathmandu. Advances in Agricultural Research in Nepal. Lalitpur, Nepal Palhi Chhapakhana Pvt.
Nepal.
Sharma, S., D.B. Thapa, A. Mudwari, B. R. khadki, E. Duveiller, G.O. Ferrara, B.K. Batsa, R.C. Sharma, S.
Joshi and J. Neupane. 2007. Proceeding of the 8th National Research Workshop. Nepal Agriculture
Research Council, Nepal
Sharma, S., J.M. Louwers, C.B. Karki and C.H.A. Snijders. 1995. Postulation of resistance genes to yellow
rust in wild emmer wheat derivatives and advanced wheat lines from Nepal. Euphytica.
81(3):271-277.
Te Beest, D. E., N. D. Paveley, M. W. Shaw and F. van den Bosch. 2008. Ecology and Epidemiology.
Phytopathology. 98 (5): 609-617.
Wilcoxson, R. D., B. Skovmand and Atif, A. H. 1975. Evaluation of wheat cultivars for ability to retard
development of stem rust. Ann. Appl. Biol. 80: 275–281.
J. Inst. Agric.Anim. Sci. 31: 95 - 103 (2010)