Field pathogenomics detects rapid global spread of recent emergent European lineages of wheat yellow rust

Wheat yellow (stripe) rust disease, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (PST), poses a significant threat to global wheat production. The past decade has seen the emergence of new PST races that are adapted to warmer temperatures, have expanded virulence profiles, and are more aggressive than previous races, leading to wide-scale epidemics. Here, we used field-based genotyping to generate high-resolution data on PST genetics, finding that recently emerged European PST lineages are now globally widespread. Comparative analysis of the 2014 and 2013 UK populations identified a considerable shift in the PST population structure, including the first identification of the Kranich race in the UK. Finally, we uncovered potential seasonal and varietal specificity for genetic groups of PST. This knowledge regarding which wheat varieties are susceptible to specific PST isolates, and when those isolates are prevalent throughout the year, represents a powerful tool for disease management.