First report of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Ug99 in Iraq
In Iraq, during a survey conducted in 2019, 27 wheat (Triticum sp.) plants showing symptoms of stem rust were collected and tested. Molecular analyses and pathogenicity tests confirmed that the causal agent was the wheat stem rust fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Ug99 race TTKTT. This is the first time that the Ug99 race group is detected in Iraq. The Ug99 race group of P. graminis f. sp. tritici is a lineage of wheat stem rust that is able to overcome a number of resistance genes of wheat varieties previously resistant to the disease. This race group has been found in several countries in Africa and the Middle East (see also RS 2008/147).
Sources
Nazari K, Al-Maaroof EM, Kurtulus E, Kavaz H, Hodson D, Ozseven I (2021) First report of Ug99 race TTKTT of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) in Iraq. Plant Disease (early view). https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-02-21-0404-PDN