Growers of cereal crops are being asked to gather as many examples of stripe rust disease as they can, to be used in a major research exercise.
Plant & Food Research and the Foundation for Arable Research are looking for examples of the pathogen, to better help New Zealand growers develop strain resistant cultivars.
Research director Nick Poole says it's important to know what is out there.
Until 10 years ago, New Zealand strains of stripe rust were sent to Australia to be analysed. But that was discontinued when Australia tightened its borders.
Stripe rust is a major yield robber of cereal crops. It occurs every year to a greater or lesser extent.
Growers can send examples of stripe rust to the Foundation for Arable Research in Templeton.
