Effect of some agricultural factors on the severity of yellow rust disease on wheat in Syria

Abstract

Yellow rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most serious diseases threatening wheat production worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the effect of three factors (wheat variety, cultivated area, and irrigation system) on the severity of yellow rust infection through a comprehensive field survey of wheat-growing areas in several Syrian governorates during the 2023 season. Statistical analysis revealed a clear superiority of hardy varieties in resistance, with an average infection severity of 24.5%, compared to 53.6% for soft varieties, with significant differences (P < 0.01). Irrigated farming conditions more than doubled the average infection severity to 58.2%, compared to 36.1% under rainfed conditions. Furthermore, a strong correlation was found between cultivated area and disease severity (P = 0.820, r = 0.045), with area alone explaining 67% of the total variance in infection severity (R = 0.67). From the above, we conclude that the wheat variety plays a significant role in determining the plant's susceptibility or resistance to infection, and consequently, the severity of the disease. Furthermore, the cultivated area and the resulting inoculum may be more influential than atmospheric humidity alone in determining the severity of the epidemic.