Host and Pathogen Factors Determining Yellow Rust Reaction in Wheat- An Overview

Abstract

Among cereals, wheat is one of the most important crop globally, being a major component of food security. Among rust diseases of wheat, yellow rust is an important which result in considerable losses in normal and colossal losses in epidemic conditions. The disease-causing organism Puccinia striiformis is an obligate pathogen with diverse pathotypes which have the ability to invade resistance of the wheat varieties due to prevalence of new pathotypes. It is therefore, important to understand the virulence patterns of pathotypes and host resistant genes to create a mismatch for sustainable production. This review paper examines the losses due to yellow rust, variability in pathogen for virulence, migration of pathogen, meteorological pre-disposing factors, types and number of resistant genes governing yellow rust resistance at various plant growth stages, identification of resistant genes through conventional and molecular markers, conventional and biotechnological methods for developing yellow rust resistant wheat varieties and futuristic outlook to tackle yellow rust epidemic under climate change regime through breeding and management strategies.