Mutant wheat fungus alarms food experts
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.
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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.
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