Prevalence of Wheat Rust Pathogen (Puccinia spp.) in Pasinler District, Erzurum Province

Wheat rust diseases (Puccinia spp.) are among the major fungal pathogens that significantlyaffect wheat production both globally and in Turkey. These diseases cause pustule formation onleaves and spikes, disrupting photosynthesis and nutrient transport, which leads to yield reductionand quality loss. Although Erzurum Province is an important wheat-growing region due to itsfavorable climatic and soil conditions, data on the occurrence of rust diseases in the Pasinler districtremain limited. This study was conducted during the 2025 wheat growing season using randomlycollected wheat samples from various fields in Pasinler. Rust symptoms on leaves and spikes wererecorded during field surveys, and disease prevalence and severity were assessed based on theproportion of infected plants and pustule density. Morphological identification was employed as theprimary method for evaluating the distribution and intensity of the disease in the field. The resultsrevealed that wheat rust is moderately widespread in the Pasinler district, showing variability amongfields. The overall disease incidence ranged from 13% to 17%, with slightly higher severity observedin certain areas. This variation was closely related to regional climatic conditions, sowing dates, wheatcultivars, and agronomic practices. Early detection and the implementation of integrated diseasemanagement strategies are crucial to minimize yield losses. The study provides valuable insights formonitoring wheat rust in the Pasinler region, facilitating early diagnosis and the planning ofappropriate cultural and biological control measures. Furthermore, it underscores the importance ofdeveloping regional epidemiological data and disease maps for future research and managementplanning. Keywords: Wheat, Rust disease, Puccinia spp., Disease prevalence, Epidemiology