Distribution, dynamics, and physiological races of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici) on irrigated wheat in the Awash River Basin of Ethiopia

Wheat is one of the high-value major crops in the world. However, wheat stem rust is considered one of the determinant threats to wheat production in Ethiopia and the world. So this study was conducted to assess the disease intensity, seasonal distribution dynamics pattern, the genetic variability of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, and to determine the virulence spectrum in the irrigated ecology of the Awash River Basin. Totally 137 wheat farms were evaluated, from 2014/15–2019/20 in six districts representing the Upper, Middle, and Lower Awash River Basin. Farm plots were assessed, in every 5–10 km intervals, with ’X’ fashion, and data on disease incidence, severity, healthy plants were counted and recorded. Diseased samples were collected from the diseased wheat stem by Puccinia graminis physiological and genetic race analysis. The seasonal trend of stem rust disease progress showed its importance to infer the future progresses of the disease for the country’s potential production plan of irrigated wheat. The result revealed that the disease prevalence, disease incidence, and severity were significantly varied; among the different districts and seasons in the two regions. The survey results also indicated that about 71.7% of the wheat fields were affected by stem rust during the 2018/19 growing period. The disease’s overall incidence and mean severity during the same season were 49.02% and 29.27%, respectively. In 2019/20, about 63.7% of the wheat fields were affected by stem rust, disease incidence 30.97%, and severity 17.22% were lower than the previous season. In 2019/20, even though seasonal disease distribution decreased, the spatial distribution was expanding in Afambo and Dubti districts. Four, stem rust dominant races were identified (TTTTF, TKTTF TKKTF, and TTKTF) by physiological and genetic race analysis during 2018/19 and one additional race (TKPTF) in 2019/20, production year. The result indicated that the races are highly virulent and affect most Sr genes except Sr31 and Sr24. From the race analysis result, TTTTF, and TKKTF have the broadest virulence spectrum race, which affects 90% of the Sr genes. Generally, we can conclude that the spatial and seasonal distribution of the disease is expanding. Most of the races in the irrigated areas in the Basin were similar to that of rain-fed wheat production belts in Ethiopia, so care must be given, to effective management of the diseases, in both production ecologies towards controlling the spore pressure than race variability. Therefore, these findings provide inputs for wheat producers to reduce the spread and disease’ damage in the irrigated ecologies of Ethiopia. Also, it gives an insight for breeders to think about the breeding program in their crossing lines.

Wheat Resistance to Stripe and Leaf Rusts Conferred by Introgression of Slow Rusting Resistance Genes

Twenty-three wheat genotypes were evaluated for stripe and leaf rusts, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici and Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici, respectively, at seedling and adult stages under greenhouses and field conditions during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 growing seasons. The race analysis revealed that 250E254 and TTTST races for stripe and leaf rusts, respectively were the most aggressive. Eight wheat genotypes (Misr-3, Misr-4, Giza-171, Gemmeiza-12, Lr34/Yr18, Lr37/Yr17, Lr46/Yr29, and Lr67/Yr46) were resistant to stripe and leaf rusts at seedling and adult stages. This result was confirmed by identifying the resistance genes: Lr34/Yr18, Lr37/Yr17, Lr46/Yr29, and Lr67/Yr46 in these genotypes showing their role in the resistance. Sids-14 and Shandweel-1 genotypes were susceptible to stripe and leaf rusts. Twelve crosses between the two new susceptible wheat genotypes and the three slow rusting genes (Lr34/Yr18, Lr37/Yr17, and Lr67/Yr46) were conducted. The frequency distribution of disease severity (%) in F2 plants of the twelve crosses was ranged from 0 to 80%. Resistant F2 plants were selected and the resistance genes were detected. This study is important for introducing new active resistance genes into the breeding programs and preserving diversity among recently released wheat genotypes.

“Uneasy Lies the Head that Wears a Crown”: A Critical Race Analysis of the CROWN Act

Black hair in the United States remains misunderstood and othered against Eurocentric standards of beauty and professionalism as evidenced by the ongoing policing of Black hair in schools and workplaces. The CROWN Act of 2019 was passed in several states to protect Black adults and children from hair-biased discrimination, and was introduced to the United States Congress in December 2019. In September 2020, the CROWN Act passed in the US House of Representatives, however, it has not been passed in the Senate, yet. In this paper, I provide a critical race analysis of hair policies and challenges collected from news articles, the CROWN Research Study, and testimonies in support of the CROWN Act to demonstrate the importance of this bill’s passing at the federal level.

Toward a critical race analysis of the COVID-19 crisis in US carceral institutions

People in carceral institutions are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection. Applying critical race theory to the problem of COVID-19 provides tools to analyze the risk of infection and evaluate the public health response within the imprisoned, jailed, and detained population. On the surface, this is due to factors related to a lack of hygiene products, an inability to physically distance, a low quality and inaccessible health care, and poor health. However, at root, the increased risk for infection is directly linked to the legacy of slavery and colonization within the history of US prisons, jails, and detention centers. As a solution to the crisis of COVID-19 and prevention of future pandemics within prisons, jails and detention centers, a critical race orientation provides reason and direction for mass decarceration and racial justice.

Distribution, Epidemics dynamics and physiological races of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici Eriks and E. Henn) on irrigated wheat in the Awash River basin of Ethiopia

ABSTRACTWheat is one of the high value important major crops of the globe. However, wheat stem rust is considered one of the determinant threats to wheat production in Ethiopia and the globe. So this study was conducted with the objective to assess disease intensity, seasonal distribution dynamics, and genetic variability and to determine virulence spectrum of stem rust in the irrigated wheat areas of Ethiopia. A total of 137 wheat farms were evaluated from 2014/15 - 2019/20 in six districts of Awash River basin. Farm plots were assessed every 5 - 10 km interval with ‘X’ fashion, and data on disease incidence, severity, and healthy plants were scored with diseased wheat plant samples collection for stem rust race analysis. The seasonal trend of wheat stem rust disease was also compared to see the future importance of the diseases. The result revealed that the prevalence, incidence, and severity of stem rust were significantly varied among the different districts and seasons in the two regions. The survey results also indicated that about 71.7% of the wheat fields were affected by stem rust during the 2018/19 growing season. The overall incidence and mean severity of the disease during the same season were 49.02% and 29.27%, respectively. During 2019/20 about 63.7% of the wheat fields were affected by stem rust, which, however, the incidence (30.97%) and severity (17.22%) were lower than the previous season. Although the seasonal disease distribution was decreased, its spatial distribution was expanding into Lower Awash. The physiological and the genetic race analysis identified four dominant races (TTTTF, TKTTF TKKTF, and TTKTF) during 2018/19 and additional race (TKPTF) during 2019/20. Thus races are highly virulent and affect most of the Sr genes except Sr – 31 and Sr – 24. TTTTF and TKKTF are the widest virulence spectrum which affects 90% of the Sr genes. Thus, it can be concluded that the spatial and seasonal distribution of the disease was expanding. Moreover, most of the races were similar with rain-fed production, and thus care must be given for effective management of the diseases to both agro-ecologies. Therefore, these findings provide inputs or insight for breeders to think about the breeding programs in their crossing lines and wheat producers to reduce the damage of the disease in the irrigated ecologies.ETHICAL STATEMENTThus, surveys were conducted with the lateral aim of rust epidemics early warning and monitoring support program in the Awash River basin. Samples for this study were collected from farmers’ fields of the irrigated production areas in the Awash River basin. The disease was an air-borne disease that is difficult to contain. Still, we give maximum care during surveying through spore-free through self-sanitation after Pgt infested field observation to minimize induced disease dissemination to the communities in the production areas that no specific permissions were required for these locations. Field sites are on public access, and P. graminis f. sp. tritici is already an air-born pathogen that doesn’t need special protection kinds. This work was our study experience in the endeavor in irrigated wheat technology dissemination.