A Global Threat: Epidemiology and Management of Yellow Rust on Wheat

Abstract Yellow rust, also known as stripe rust, caused by the plant pathogenic fungus Puccinia striiformis is an long studied disease which affects cereal crops such as wheat and barley but also cultivated grasses and wild grasses globally. Yellow rust is a particularly destructive disease on wheat, where it can lead to severe yield losses if the grown wheat varieties are susceptible to the disease. The pathogen was first described several hundred years ago and has historically occurred mainly in temperate areas with a cool and humid climate, or in high-altitude warmer areas with cold nights; however, recently yellow rust has spread to warmer areas, where it was previously absent, causing great concern, especially in the context of global warming. Now, yellow rust has been reported in more than 60 countries and is present in all wheat-growing areas of the world. Information © The Author 2025