Evaluation of Ethiopian wheat rust trap nurseries against yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici) in Ethiopia

Yellow (stripe) rust diseases caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp is the most bottlenecks for wheat production in the highlands of Ethiopia.The field experiment was conducted to evaluate commercial cultivars, advanced and differential wheat lines for the resistance to prevailing rust populations and effectiveness of genes against the yellow rust races. Ethiopian wheat rust trap nursery (EWRTN) experiment was conducted in 2022 main cropping season across multiple yellow rust hot spot areas of Bekoji, Asassa, Kulumsa, Meraro, and Arsi Robe research stations. It encompassed a total of 81 commercial cultivars, candidates and 17 yellow rust differential lines. The experimental results showed that majority of durum wheat varieties exhibited moderately resistant to susceptible reaction to the current prevalent yellow rust race. Several commercially varieties of Meraro, Senkeagne, Tay, Tsehay, Bichan, Balcha, Daka, and candidate lines of BW-192346 and BW-192347 exhibited moderately resistance to the current dominant yellow rust patho-types across locations. The most popular bread wheat cultivars Kakaba, Shorima, Ogolcho, Kubsa, Hidassie, Kingbird, and Digalu, were highly susceptible to yellow rust disease that needs frequent application of fungicide to improve yield. Among the 17 differential lines Yr5, Yr10 and Yr15 maintained effective against the prevalent yellow rust races across all testing locations.