Disease threatens Chinese wheat and, hence, noodles

China, the world's largest wheat producer - think of all the noodles they eat - is reporting an infestation of wheat rust due to our warmer climate.

"Lu Guoqiang, a researcher at the Provincial Plant Protection Station, said that a large amount of bacteria, susceptibility to varieties, and excessive rainfall in spring were the three key factors leading to the epidemic of wheat stripe rust and scab. Affected by factors such as the large amount of bacteria in the oversummer area of Gansu, high temperature in winter, and high rainfall, wheat stripe rust showed early onset and reoccurrence in our province this year.

According to a survey by the Provincial Plant Protection Station, wheat stripe rust in our province has been seen before winter, nearly 100 days earlier than usual, which is the earliest year of onset in many years. Up to now, more than 150 disease spots have been found in 22 townships in 9 counties (cities, districts) of Nanyang, with the incidence being significantly more severe than usual." https://www.henan.gov.cn/2020/03-15/1305085.html (Google will auto-translate.)