completed · Health
Developing new tools for breeding blast resistant wheat
In February 2016, the first observation ever of wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) beyond South America was recorded in Bangladesh. The extent of the wheat blast outbreak in Bangladesh was considerable and rapid, with 15,000 hectares affected between February to March 2016, and is estimated to have affected at least 45,000 farmers, the majority of whom are resource-poor smallholders. Most importantly this first introduction of a highly virulent form of MoT, in heavily populated South Asia represents a serious threat not only for Bangladesh, but also for regional food security in S. Asia, home to 300 million undernourished people and whose inhabitants consume over 100 million tons of wheat each year. The speed by which MoT however spread across Bangladesh in 2016 was alarming, indicating that if blast were to further spread in South Asia, inaction to mitigate the disease could lead adversely affect the food and income security of over a billion people. There is thus an urgent need to characterize these isolates to identify their morphology, virulence, fungicide resistance and genome evolution at various geographical locations. This work which includes disease surveillance, marker development and participatory trials would help researchers and breeders to identify solutions for the sustainable wheat production in the region in presence of this new highly virulent pathogen. This will be critical to avoid a major potential disaster.
Overview
About this project
In February 2016, the first observation ever of wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) beyond South America was recorded in Bangladesh. The extent of the wheat blast outbreak in Bangladesh was considerable and rapid, with 15,000 hectares affected between February to March 2016, and is estimated to have affected at least 45,000 farmers, the majority of whom are resource-poor smallholders. Most importantly this first introduction of a highly virulent form of MoT, in heavily populated South Asia represents a serious threat not only for Bangladesh, but also for regional food security in S. Asia, home to 300 million undernourished people and whose inhabitants consume over 100 million tons of wheat each year. The speed by which MoT however spread across Bangladesh in 2016 was alarming, indicating that if blast were to further spread in South Asia, inaction to mitigate the disease could lead adversely affect the food and income security of over a billion people. There is thus an urgent need to characterize these isolates to identify their morphology, virulence, fungicide resistance and genome evolution at various geographical locations. This work which includes disease surveillance, marker development and participatory trials would help researchers and breeders to identify solutions for the sustainable wheat production in the region in presence of this new highly virulent pathogen. This will be critical to avoid a major potential disaster.
Progress
0%- Plan
- Implementation
- Outcomes
Alignment