title: Durable resistance to wheat stem rust needed.
abstract: The recent outbreak of a new wheat stem rust race capable of parasitizing many commercial wheat cultivars highlights the need for durable disease resistance in crop plants. More advanced breeding approaches using quantitative disease resistance genes and resistance gene pyramids are being used to combat wheat stem rust and other diseases, though widespread adoption of these breeding methodologies is needed to maintain resistance efficacy. Advances in understanding the molecular basis of plant disease resistance at both host and nonhost levels offers further possibilities for stem rust resistance using biotechnological approaches. However, truly durable resistance to wheat stem rust and other phytopathogens seems an unlikely prospect in the face of continually evolving pathogen populations.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Plant Industry, Box 1600, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. michael.ayliffe@csiro.au
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayliffe
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Evans
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lagudah
mesh_terms: D001947:Breeding; D017343:Genes, Plant; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*