April 11th 2023.
The spread of the wheat blast fungus is proving to be a major threat to global food security, with its presence being identified in Brazil, Bangladesh, Zambia, and beyond. Climate change, globalisation and armed conflict are facilitating its spread, with outbreaks of varying severity continuing in Bangladesh and Zambia since 2018. Scientists are calling for greater international collaboration in genetic surveillance of crop species to minimise their destruction, as well as learning lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic to track the spread and mutations of the fungus. A new study conducted by an international team of scientists revealed that the wheat blast fungus afflicting Bangladesh and Zambia is of the same genetic lineage as that in South America. Fortunately, one wheat gene, Rmg8, has been identified as being resistant to wheat blast, offering hope for the future of food security.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk)
Climate change, globalisation and armed conflict have facilitated the spread of an alarming wheat fungus across the globe, threatening food security.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) However, with the help of genetic surveillance, experts have identified a gene, Rmg8, that is resistant to the wheat blast fungus. This promising breakthrough is a reminder of the importance of international collaboration in the fight against plant pandemics and the need to learn lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic to help us better monitor and respond to global threats to food security.
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