From 2009 to 2018, a total of 80 wheat crops were studied at plot and regional scales to predict stripe rust epidemics based on influential climatic indicators in Kermanshah province, Iran. Disease onset time and epidemic intensity varied spatially and temporarily. The disease epidemic variable was classified as having experienced nonepidemic, moderate or severe epidemics to be used for statistical analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify climatic variables associated with occurrence and intensity of stripe rust epidemics. Two principal factors accounting for 70% of the total variance indicated association of stripe rust epidemic occurrence with the number of icy days with minimum temperatures below 0°C (for subtropical regions) and below −10°C (for cool temperate and semi-arid regions). Disease epidemic intensity was linked to the number of rainy days, the number of days with minimum temperatures within the range of 7−8°C and relative humidity (RH) above 60%, and the number of periods involving consecutive days with minimum temperature within the range of 6−9°C and RH% > 60% during a 240-day period, from September 23 to May 21. Among mean monthly minimum temperatures and maximum relative humidity examined, mean maximum relative humidity for Aban (from October 23 to November 21) and mean minimum temperature for Esfand (from February 20 to March 20) indicated higher contributions to stripe rust epidemic development. Confirming PCA results, a multivariate logit ordinal model was developed to predict severe disease epidemics. The findings of this study improved our understanding of the combined interactions between air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wheat stripe rust development over a three-season period of autumn-winter-spring.

Investigation of leaf rust disease on spring crops of triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm.), it sdi stribution dynamics, as well as the efficacy of two fungicides, different application doses and timing was carried out at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture during 2000–2002. Differences in the disease development were determined by the meteorological conditions, especially the amount of rainfall, and growth stage of plants. Precipitation during 2000 was close to the mean, and the development of leaf rust was moderate. In June of 2001 the rainfall was twice as high as the norm, which created favourable conditions for pathogen development. In 2002 a long droughty period till flowering inhibited the development of leaf rust. The triazole fungicides Juventus (metkonazole 60 g l^–1) and triazole and strobilurine mixture. Allegro (kresoxim-methyl 125 g l^–1 + epoxikonazole 125 g l^–1) were used at full, two-third and half doses once and twice. Both of the fungicides were very effective against leaf rust. Biological efficacy of Juventus applied at any dose or time against leaf rust was 88.3%–99.7%. Allegro efficacy against this disease was slightly higher 94.7%–100%. Application of 1.0; 0.75 and 0.5 l ha^–1 doses twice showed a better efficacy than a single application. The higher doses of fungicides were not markedly superior to the lower ones.

Currently, production of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) that show durable field resistance against fungal pathogens is a priority of many breeding programs. This type of resistance involves race-nonspecific mechanisms and can be identified at adult-plant stages. Until now, seven genes (Lr34/Yr18, Lr46/Yr29, Lr67/Yr46, Lr68, Lr75, Lr77 and Lr78) conferring durable types of resistance against multiple fungal pathogens have been identified in the wheat gene pool. In this study we showed a multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (multiplex PCR) assay, which was developed for detection of slow rusting resistance genes Lr34, Lr46, Lr68, using molecular markers: csLV34, Xwmc44 and csGS, respectively. Identification of molecular markers was performed on 40 selected wheat genotypes which are the sources of slow rusting genes according to literature reports. Multiplex PCR is an important tool to reduce the time and cost of analysis. This multiplex PCR protocol can be applicable for genotyping processes and marker assisted resistance breeding of wheat.

The resistance of winter wheat varieties to Puccinia recondite f. sp. tritici was investigated at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture during 2001–2003. Effectiveness of resistance genes was investigated at seedling, tillering and adult plant stages. Virulence tests done during the 2000–2003 period showed that the majority of Lr genes used in European wheat were not sufficiently efficient. However, testing of cultivars at the first leaf stage revealed that the Lr37 gene in combination with the other genes was very effective. The experimental cultivars were sown in 2 times: in autumn and spring, without vernalization. The main task of spring-sown nursery was to improve the effectiveness of the experiment and investigate the effect of different Lr genes of non-vernalized plants at tillering growth stage. The Lr37 gene was found to be the most effective at both adult plant stage and tillering growth stage. Disease severity and plant resistance type at tillering stage were stable in all experimental years, which is important for the breeding program. The investigations revealed that the correlations between resistance at seedling and the other two stages were up to r = 0.81 (significant at p = 0.01**). The correlations between leaf rust severity and varietal resistance type at tillering were very high (r = 0.86–0.91**) in the same year. The correlation of leaf rust severity at adult plant stage was strong (r = 0.78**) between 2001 and 2002, but too low for reliable selection of resistant cultivars in the other years. Spring-sown nursery was complementary to collect resistance data in the years unfavourable for leaf rust development.

The effectiveness of 7 fungicides ( Amistar 250 SC, Bayleton 5 WP, Bumper 250 EC, Discus 500 WG, Folicur BT 225 EC, Folicur Multi 50 WG, Score 250 EC) and 2 bioproducts (Biochikol 020 PC and Biosept 33 SL) in the control of Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis was tested on pelargonium cv. Pulsar F1 Salmon. Additionally, their influence on plant growth, size of pustules, percentage of germinated spores and phytotoxicity were assessed. Plants were sprayed 4 times at weekly intervals. Among tested compounds the most effective in suppressing new uredia formation were Amistar 250 SC, Bayleton 5 WP, Biosept 33 SL, Bumper 250 EC, Folicur BT 225 EC and Score 250 EC. Furthermore, some fungicides inhibited germination of urediospores on PDA medium. Fourteen days after the last spraying more than 76% of germinating urediospores were found on control leaves. At the same time spores collected from plants protected with Amistar 250 SC, Bayleton 5 WP, Folicur BT 225 EC and Folicur Multi 50 WG germinated sporadically in 1.5 to 4.0%. In the next part of experiment, plants with visible sporulation of P. pelargonii-zonalis were sprayed with tested compounds. After 1, 7 and 14 days of incubation, total number of spores and number of germinating spores were counted. After 1 or 7 days, urediospores collected from untreated plants germinated in more than 80% whereas from plants sprayed with tested fungicides except Amistar 250 SC in 20–66.6%. Amistar 250 SC was the most effective in suppressing urediospore germination. All fungicides used in protection of young pelargonium plants, except Amistar 250 SC and Biochikol 020 PC, decreased plant growth. None of tested compounds showed phytotoxicity toward tested pelargonium cultivar.