Rusting wheat
Scientists race against devastating fungus threatening a major world food crop
Here’s an idea for a science-fiction thriller: A virulent, mutating fungus capable of killing most of the world’s wheat crop begins to spread, threatening famine and economic havoc. Scientists work feverishly to find genes for new varieties of wheat that can resist the fungus and avert disaster.
Actually, that isn’t a movie plot. It is really happening.
The fungus is called wheat stem rust, and the most virulent strain of it to appear in a century is devastating the wheat crops in a few countries. Though it hasn’t hit any major producers and could be years away from the United States, more than 80 percent of the world’s wheat crops appear to be vulnerable to it.
Where it has taken hold, the fungus is overwhelming most of the genetic defenses bred into the plants over the decades. And it continues to mutate, becoming even more dangerous.
The fungus, known as Ug99, appeared first in Uganda in 1999 and has so far spread to a handful of countries, including Yemen, Kenya, Iran and Ethiopia. A concern is that the fungus, which is spread by the wind, will begin to move at a far faster pace into more countries.
It could next enter Pakistan and India, the world’s second largest wheat producer, with other major wheat producers also endangered, including Russia and China. The United States, the world’s third-largest wheat producer, is eventually expected to be hit as well, although it could be years before that occurs.
“It is just a matter of time before it spreads all over the world,” said Bikram Gill, the head of Kansas State University’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center. “If it would come here tomorrow, it would be disaster.”
Fungicides offer some protection, but the most fruitful approach is in producing new varieties of wheat that resist Ug99. But it takes years to breed a new wheat variety and produce sufficient seed for widespread production.
Wheat is called the staff of life for a reason. It is a basic food in most societies, and a shortage would have a profound impact, including potentially causing riots and famine. The United Nations has encouraged the effort to combat Ug99, saying the fungus endangers the world’s food security.
The effort has received some government help, and it got a big push when the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation encouraged Cornell University to develop a plan for Ug99. The foundation gave $26.8 million to get the plan moving.
As a result, the Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat project launched in April 2008. It’s led by Cornell, which enlisted more than a dozen institutions around the world.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments