Wheat blast - an expanding disease threatening global wheat production
Wheat blast is caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT), which was initially observed in South America, this disease remained confined there until a significant outbreak in Bangladesh in 2016, indicating its spread from South America to South Asia. In 2018, the presence of wheat blast in Zambia marked its first reported occurrence on the African continent. Prediction models, based on agro-climatic factors, have highlighted extensive regions with warm and humid conditions as being at risk, a situation that could worsen with climate change and the pathogen’s potential adaptation to cooler and dryer climates. Strategies to cope with the disease include wheat holiday, seed treatments, fungicide application, to host resistance. However, breeding efforts face hurdles due to the scarcity of resistant sources and rapid evolution of MoT. Seed treatments are effective against seedling infections but are ineffective against spike infections. While fungicides can offer some preventive benefits, their efficacy is diminishing due to the fast emergence of fungicide resistance of MoT. Adjusting sowing time is the most commonly implemented cultural strategy in areas affected by wheat blast. Managing wheat blast presents a complex challenge that necessitates a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach and international cooperation to minimize its detrimental impacts.