04/17/08 No fear here over Ug99

Farm and Ranch April 17, 2008 If you are a grain producer you have probably heard about Ug99, a virulent strain of black stem rust so named because it was discovered in Uganda in 1999. But since then the disease has spread eastward out of Africa most recently being discovered in Iran. Washington State University plant pathologist Doctor Tim Murray explains why Ug99 is such a concern for world wheat production. Murray: "It has some unusual, what we call virulences, that allow it to overcome the resistance in many of the wheat varieties in the world." Experts expect that Ug99 will get to the United States eventually but Murray says it shouldn't be a problem in the Pacific Northwest. Murray: "Black stem rust requires warm temperatures and by the time it gets warm enough here it is usually too dry or the crop is mature enough that it is not going to be susceptible or it is not going to be damaged even if it is infected." Murray says although black stem rust does occur in the Pacific Northwest it has never been considered a production problem. There is however an area of the U.S. where Ug99 would be of concern. Murray: "In the Plains states. The Central Plains is historically where black stem rust has been a problem. It has been controlled there with the use of resistance." Murray says this stem rust requires another plant in its lifecycle, the barberry plant, and there have been eradication programs for that in the Plains as well as here, but some plants are probably still around. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.