Global Rust Reference Center

1. Global Rust Reference Center Mogens S. Hovmøller, Annemarie F. Justesen, Stephanie Walter, Poul Lassen & Jens G. Hansen Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg, DK-4200 Slagelse, Denmark E-mail: Mogens.Hovmoller@agrsci.dk Activities and services Tasks The GRRC offers year-round ana- lyses of rust samples from cereals and grasses (primary hosts) and common barberry (alternate host). GRRC also provides training of students and scientists, data management and online data re- porting. The current research acti- vities focus on epidemiological, population genetic and evolutio- nary analyses of the yellow rust pathogen. • Maintenance of global rust isolate collection • Training & education of students, visitors and scientists • Isolate characterization • Virulence phenotyping • Genotyping • Epidemic potential • Rust tracking • Development of the online database ’Wheat Rust Toolbox’ Expected outcomes Contribution to wheat rust early warning systems (www.RustTracker.org) Scientists and students trained in rust pathology Resources GRRC is part of Aarhus University, Research Center Flakkebjerg. Facilitiescomprisequarantinegreen-houses and experimentalfieldson location, liquid nitrogen storage of a worldwidecollection of rust isolates and modern labs and equipment. Mogens S. Hovmøller is leading the rust group (10 peopleincluding 4-5 PhDs and postdocs). The annual budget is about 1.5 M US$ (2012-2015). Approximately 25% is provided by ICARDA, CIMMYT, the Durable Rust Resistanceproject (BGRI) and the European Union. Provide data, information and resources for wheat breeding and genetics, Integrated Pest Management and Decision Support and Information Systems www.EuroWheat.org www.Sortinfo.dk The “Wheat Rust Toolbox” will manage data generated by GRRC, and the team be-hind has become part of the GRRC. In 2012 a new website is being established for the dissemi-nation of information and results from the center www.wheatrust.org. GRRC: ”Openness, transparency, joining efforts”