UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS)

The UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS) uses pathogen isolates from infected cereal leaf samples to check which varieties they can infect. The tests can help detect new races of wheat and barley pathogens capable of causing disease on previously resistant cereal varieties.

• Monitors changes in pathogen virulence (wheat and barley)
• Funded by AHDB and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
• Managed by NIAB
• First report published in 1967
• Samples provided by agronomists, trials officers and researchers

The success of UKCPVS depends on infected cereal leaf samples received from the field, if you would like to get involved, full sampling instructions are available from the niab website.

The pathogen that causes yellow rust – Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici – comes in different forms. There are races that only infect particular varieties. To add further complexity, some varieties are susceptible to yellow rust when plants are young, but go on to develop some level of resistance after early stem extension (the ‘adult-plant’ stage).

Targeted at breeders, crop scientists and technical agronomists, the annual stakeholder event reports on recent seedling test results and adult plant nursery tests. It also features related technical papers based on pathogen virulence experience from across the globe.

Next event: 1 March 2023 (Sophi Taylor building, NIAB, Cambridge)