September 9, 2005

Wheat fungus in east Africa might devastate crops globally
 

US scientists said a new Ug99 strain of stem rust, or wheat fungus, could easily spread from east Africa by wind to the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. It could then devastate many varieties of spring and winter wheat that were resistant to other strains of the fungus.

East African countries currently affected by the fungus are Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

While the scientists did not provide any definite numbers on potential damage, they expressed concern that an epidemic similar to those that caused major grain losses in North America during the early and middle part of the previous century might happen.

Those past epidemics happened before wheat varieties immune to stem rust were cultivated, the scientists said.

However, they added there was still time to isolate wheat varieties resistant to Ug99 and distribute them to farmers with vulnerable crops, especially in north Africa and Asia. Also, crop monitoring was advised for regions neighbouring east Africa.