Training on Surveillance, Race Analysis and Management of Wheat Rust Diseases in Central Asia and Near East

Abstract

In context of the LoA, six participants were trained with the budget allocated by FAO. The activity also facilitated creating synergy with the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkey and CIMMYT in including additional trainees in the programme. Furthermore, ICARDA was also able to support additional trainees in the programme. The training was prepared and conducted as planned (see progress reports). The objective of the training workshop was the dissemination of knowledge and hands-on training in various aspects of science of cereal rusts including monitoring, rust resistance assessment, race analysis and molecular diversity of rust pathogens, trap nurseries and diseases management. The workshop included lectures, presentations, greenhouse experiments and hands-on training on rust scoring in the field over a period of one month. The participants were given lectures with wide range of subjects from rust pathology, host-pathogen interaction, genetic resistance in seedling and adult plants, surveillance of rust diseases, sample collection and breeding strategies to development of rust resistant plants. The participants took a keen interest in all the lectures and in-class and on field activities showing full involvement and completing all the assignments in time. The working materials including research papers, related books and documents were handed to the participants. After the lectures and assignments, the participants had the in-depth knowledge of rust pathogen, its life cycle and mode of infection, different types rust diseases, range of hosts, disease management, genetic basis of seedling and adult plant resistance in cereals, rust race typing and gene postulation, the application and advantages of early detection, rust monitoring and surveillance activities. The participants also gained an insight into breeding strategies currently deployed to develop rust resistant genotypes. List of participants and the training program are given in Annex 1 (disclosed information) and 2, respectively.