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Mutant wheat fungus alarms food experts

3 Apr 2014

JOHANNESBURG: Outbreaks of a deadly fungal disease in wheat crops in Germany and Ethiopia in 2013 have had the scientific community buzzing over the threat posed to global food security.

Wheat stem rust, also known as wheat black rust, is often referred to as the "polio of agriculture": The rapidly mutating fungal disease can travel thousands of kilometres and wipe out crops.

Wheat farmers and scientists at a recent summit hosted by the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) have been examining outbreaks of different strains of wheat stem rust in the two countries to identify any similarities.

Read the full article on www.irinnews.org.