Fungal Diseases of Wheat

Abstract

Wheat is considered the first crop that is grown on earth. It is a staple food in many regions of the world. Due to the increase in the world’s population, it is very important to increase wheat production. With an estimate in 2050, almost 50% more production of wheat will be required due to the increase in population. Increased productivity of wheat is the biggest challenge for researchers. It faces several biotic (microbial diseases) and abiotic (water, temperature, and climatic change) limiting factors. But the major threat for wheat is due to a large number of fungal diseased pathogens, which causes massive and destructive loss to the crop. It includes rusts, smuts, Fusarium head blight, Septoria leaf blotch, tan spot, and powdery mildew that cause the most serious losses. It was estimated in 2019 that almost 22% yield loss of wheat was due to diseases. These percentages will increase with time due to mutation and diversity in virulent strains. This chapter includes all major and minor fungal diseases of wheat, symptom, disease cycle, spore identification, disease losses, etiology, and integrated disease management.