Yellow rust of wheat in Serbia: Control challenges and perspectives

The causal agent of yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici) gained special attention in Serbia since the 2013/2014 production year, although its presence in the genetic collection at Rimski šančevi was noted by Jevtić et al. as early as 1997. Considering the mode of transmission of the yellow rust and its high ability to overcome host plant resistance, the aim of this study is to highlight the factors that influence the dynamics of its occurrence and the main challenges in controlling this pathogen in Serbia. The climatic factors in 2023 favored occurrence of wheat yellow rust in Serbia, similar to 2014, 2016, and 2018. However, it should be noted that the race composition of this pathogen can change from year to year, and the susceptibility and/or resistance of wheat genotypes to yellow rust depends on the combined effect of abiotic and biotic stressors. The complexity of factors influencing the level of susceptibility or resistance breakdown in wheat towards yellow rust has also been confirmed in the genetic collection at Rimski šančevi in 2023 when a significantly higher number of genotypes (80%) were infected with yellow rust compared to previous years, with a disease index exceeding 41%. The percentage of genotypes showing susceptibility reaction to yellow rust (DI>41%) was 47.7% in 2016 and 43% in 2018.