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Rust on wheat plant

CSIRO is tackling the main wheat diseases in Australia by working to better understand pathogen biology, epidemiology, disease resistance and function, and innovative gene technology.

 

  • Montage of agricultural and natural landscape.

    CSIRO Plant Industry conducts research to promote profitable and sustainable agrifood, fibre and horticultural industries, develop new plant products and improve natural resource management.

  • Close-up image of wheat growing in a field.

    CSIRO is breeding better grain varieties and improving the management of grain crops.

     

  • Two leaves exposed to rust. Leaf below is from a rust-resistant wheat containing the Lr34 / Yr18 gene combination.

    CSIRO wheat trait information for cereal breeders.

  • A flowering wheat head.

    CSIRO wheat marker information for cereal breeders.

  • Wheat field with walkway

    CSIRO’s plant breeding capabilities benefit a range of agribusiness industries from horticulture and pastoral through to broadacre crops such as wheat.

  • Emerging seedlings

    Through tailored business arrangements and research alliances, CSIRO Plant Industry can deliver flexible and innovative research solutions for a range of industry needs.

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  • CSIRO Plant Industry scientists (L-R) Dr Mick Ayliffe and Dr Evans Lagudah.

    Some of CSIRO’s best brains have been enlisted in an international effort to stop the spread of Ug99, a new wheat stem rust which threatens to devastate world wheat production. In this podcast, world leaders in rust research Dr Evans Lagudah and Dr Michael Ayliffe from CSIRO Plant Industry explain the link between Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Australian wheat varieties, and rice. (5.21)

  • A flowering wheat head.

    Learn how the world’s first’ trigenomic’ chromosome can be used to breed wheat varieties resistant to diseases like Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus and leaf rust. (6:30)

  • CSIRO Plant Industry scientists (L-R) Dr Mick Ayliffe and Dr Evans Lagudah.

    CSIRO is participating in international efforts to help find solutions to a devastating new strain of wheat disease threatening global wheat production and world food supplies.

  • CSIRO's Dr Evans Lagudah (left) and Dr Mick Ayliffe (right).

    Ug99 is a strain of the fungus, wheat stem rust, and is considered one of biggest threats to wheat production worldwide. CSIRO Plant Industry is helping find  solutions to this potential threat to world food supplies. (2 pages)