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Wheat leaf rust
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<p>Wheat leaf rust (<i>Puccinia triticina</i>) is a fungal disease that affects <a href="/facts/Wheat/lrk6HdV3">wheat</a>, <a href="/facts/Barley/GH7X2qtG">barley</a>, <a href="/facts/Rye/LwdwSNcp">rye</a> stems, leaves and grains. In <a href="/facts/Temperate_zones/6WPypCzC">temperate zones</a> it is destructive on <a href="/facts/Winter_wheat/wAx8SEob">winter wheat</a> because the pathogen <a href="/facts/Overwinter/mnMLo6SQ">overwinters</a>. Infections can lead up to 20% <a href="/facts/Crop_yield/hmE59fhk">yield</a> loss. The pathogen is a <i><a href="/facts/Puccinia/QQwMj3MB">Puccinia</a></i> <a href="/facts/Rust_(fungus)/NbnnK0ay">rust fungus</a>. It is the most prevalent of all the wheat rust diseases, occurring in most wheat-growing regions. It causes serious <a href="/facts/Epidemic/N7fM3HYd">epidemics</a> in <a href="/facts/North_America/djNjCQIl">North America</a>, <a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh">Mexico</a> and <a href="/facts/South_America/PhrFEMk7">South America</a> and is a devastating seasonal disease in <a href="/facts/India/1kKHcnxM">India</a>. <i>P. triticina</i> is <a href="/facts/Heteroecious/X40nlTHU">heteroecious</a>, requiring two distinct hosts (alternate hosts). </p>