Summary
Small grain cereals (wheat, oats, and barley) are important crops in South Dakota with an estimated production value of $990 million in 2007. Recent changes in cultural practices, weather, and genetics of the pathogens have affected the occurrence and severity of several important fungal diseases of these crops, resulting in significant losses (>5% yield statewide). Examples include; Fusarium head blight of wheat and barley and the cereal rusts (e.g. crown rust of oats). Progress has been made in the incorporation of resistance to certain diseases (e.g. Fusarium head blight); however, this has often been at the expense of resistance to others (e.g. stem rust). Additionally, changes in pathogen virulence have resulted in the defeat of previously effective resistance genes. Other diseases of importance, such as common root rot and tan spot of wheat, have historically received less attention from breeders in the region and continue to impact yields annually.
The recent expansion of grain-based ethanol industry in the region has dramatically impacted crop values and acreage. As a result, producers have begun to shift towards more intensive management strategies (e.g. fungicide applications) in order to optimize profitability. The long-term sustainability of these practices is questionable and therefore alternative disease management strategies that are effective and economical are required in order to protect small grain cereal production in the region. In addition, producers in the region may soon be planting monocultures of native grasses (e.g. switchgrass) for use in cellulosic ethanol production. There will undoubtedly be pathogens that thrive under such situations, resulting in crop losses.
The overall goal of the SDSU Small Grains and Biomass-Grass Pathology program is to facilitate the development of effective and economical management strategies for the major fungal diseases of small grain cereals and biomass grasses in South Dakota. To accomplish this goal, we simultaneously investigate pathogen biology, the genetics of host resistance, and integrated disease management strategies. Specific research objectives currently under investigation include: monitoring pathogen population variations, studying environmental impacts on disease epidemiology, developing disease forecasting models for site-specific management recommendations, identifying new sources of disease resistance, and improving resistance in adapted germplasm and breeding material. Research on specific pathogens is detailed on individual pages.
Some of the diseases we work on:
- Stem Rust (all)
- Leaf Rust (wheat) - page under development as of 4/15/08
- Stripe Rust (wheat) - page under development as of 4/15/08
- Crown Rust (oats) - page under development as of 4/15/08
- Fusarium Head Blight (wheat & barley) - page under development as of 4/15/08
- Leaf Blights of Wheat - page under development as of 4/15/08
- Common Root Rot (wheat & barley) - page under development as of 4/15/08
Biomass Grasses
- Prairie Cordgrass Diseases (a future biomass crop) - being developed as of 4/15/08