Schumann, G.L. and K.J. Leonard. 2000. Stem rust of wheat (black rust). The Plant Health Instructor. DOI: 10.1094/PHI-I-2000-0721-01
Updated, 2005.

DISEASE:  Stem rust (black rust)

PATHOGEN:  Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici

HOSTS:  wheat and barley, common barberry (and some additional Berberis, Mahoberberis, and Mahonia spp.)

Authors
Gail L. Schumann, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Kurt J. Leonard, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Agricultural Research Service, Cereal Disease Lab, St. Paul, MN

Stem rust was once the most feared disease of cereal crops. It is not as damaging now due to the development of resistant cultivars, but outbreaks may occur when new pathogen races arise against which the existing kinds of resistance are ineffective. Stem rust remains an important threat to wheat and barley and, thus, to the world food supply. Anton deBary first demonstrated the heteroecious life cycle of a rust fungus with Puccinia graminis, the causal agent of stem rust.

Uredinia of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici.
(Courtesy B. Steffenson)