Wind-dispersed diseases

Dispersal by wind is important in many plant pathosystems but this chapter is restricted to two groups of important wind-dispersed diseases: the powdery mildews and the rusts. Both groups are of special interest in epidemiology because they are highly sensitive to environment and their presence can vary from season to season. The corresponding fungal pathogens are biotrophic obligate parasites creating well known diseases on many crop plants. Here, the discussion concentrates on cereals which can be seriously affected by powdery mildew and rust fungi, and particularly on the powdery mildews of wheat and barley and the rusts of wheat.