The John Innes Centre, based on the Norwich Research Park, is leading the fight against a newly-identified disease strain which has overcome a key resistance gene protecting many commercial wheat varieties from yellow rust.

Scientists say the breakdown of this "Yr15" resistance gene leaves more than half of the UK’s wheat acreage vulnerable to infection from yellow rust - a fungal disease which can cause significant yield losses in susceptible crops.

Diseased wheat plants in a Norfolk crop trial (Image: Newsquest)

Without swift intervention, they warn that growers could face heavier reliance on chemical fungicides to protect yields, increasing input costs and long-term resistance risks.........

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