CAC-Rust project workshop discusses recent approaches in breeding rust-resistant wheat

Photo: ©FAO

08/12/2022

Antalya, Türkiye – Wheat is the world’s most widely grown crop and a major food security commodity in Central and West Asia, as well as in North Africa. However, rust diseases constitute a common challenge in almost all wheat-growing regions. Without doubt, the most effective approach for their management is the development and use of resistant varieties.

In the light of these facts, the CAC-Rustprojectorganized a workshop on 23 November 2022bringing together scientists and rust workers to discuss updates regarding breeding for wheat rust resistance. The workshop was held within the scope of the 4th International Plant Breeding Congress, and was jointly organized by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye (MoAF) in the context of the project “Strengthening regional collaboration and national capacities for management of wheat-rust diseases and resistance breeding in Central Asia and Caucasus (CAC Rust)”, which is supported by the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP II). Theworkshop provided an opportunity for participants to exchange knowledge and experiences concerning breeding for wheat rust resistance and its role in the management of the rust diseases.

At the opening of the workshop, Suat Kaymak, Head of the Plant Health Research Department of the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) of MoAF, welcomed the participants and highlighted the significant threat posed by wheat rust diseases in Türkiye, indicating that yield losses can reach up to 20-80 percent.

Fazil Dusunceli, agricultural officer of the FAO-SEC office, presented an outline of the project, summarizing proposed activities under thematic areas including monitoring of the disease, race analysis, breeding for rust resistance, training for integrated disease management and regional collaboration.

Kumarse Nazari, senior rust pathologist leading rust research at the Regional Cereal Rust Research Center (RCRRC), operated jointly by MoAF and the International Center for Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), provided an insight into the importance of the monitoring of races at a regional level. He also highlighted the potential and capacity of the centre to serve countries in the region.

Beyhan Akin, wheat breeder of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT-Türkiye) and its coordinator for the International Wheat Programme (IWWIP) provided an update on the wheat-breeding activities of CIMMYT, including efforts to accelerate (speed) breeding procedures with multiple generations in a given year. E. Burcu Tugay of the Field Crops Central Research Institute of MoAF summarized the status of wheat rusts in Türkiye and current work on breeding for resistance in the country, emphasizing recent epidemics and the need to test breeding materials at both the seedling and adult stages.

Open panel discussions and messages for progress

Following the presentations, an open panel discussion was held with contributions from leading scientists and moderated by Kenan Yalvac, Secretary General of the Turkish Seed Industries Association (TURKTED). During the discussions, Hans Braun, former CIMMYT wheat programme leader, emphasized the need for more investment in wheat research as well as focused efforts to map the varieties in the region and conduct gene postulation.

Nusret Zencirci of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University highlighted the importance and potential of genetic resources, particularly land races and wild relatives. He noted that very few of the around wheat 800 000 accessions are utilized, and that characterization of these resources is key to their utilization in breeding programmes.

Mesut Keser, ICARDA country manager and senior wheat breeder, shared his experiences from IWWIP in Central Asia. He referred to specific successes in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan where IWWIP-originated varieties account for nearly 55 percent and 20 percent of total wheat cultivation area, respectively.

Robert Koebner from the Kirkhouse Trust highlighted the potential role of molecular tools, although he warned that these should not be treated as a stand-alone technology and instead be considered as natural components of breeding programmes.

The discussions also highlighted the need for further focus and investment in the following areas in order to prevent yield and production losses from wheat rust diseases in the region:

monitoring, surveillance and race analysis, including the submission of wheat rust samples by countries to the regional research centre;
studies on the coverage of wheat varieties in countries, and gene postulation;
improved characterization of genetic resources, including land races and wild relatives;
enhancement of regional collaboration through the exchange of knowledge, expertise and wheat germplasm;
mobilization of resources for the improvement of wheat, a key food security crop for the region.

About the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes

The objectives of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes are to provide support to ensure food security, rural poverty reduction and sustainable forest management; combat desertification; and preserve ecosystems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and other countries of mutual interest.

Established in 2007, the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP) has benefited from trust fund contributions totalling USD 10 million, financed by the Government of Türkiye and represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. During the first phase of the programme, 28 projects were implemented in 16 countries between 2009 and 2015.

In 2014, Türkiye and FAO commenced the second phase of the FTPP along with the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme (FTFP) with additional funding of USD 20 million, bringing Türkiye’s total contribution to USD 30 million.

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