SUSTAINABLE CONTROL STRATEGIES IN INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF WHEAT STRIPE RUST– AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Wheat stripe rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most devastating diseases affecting wheat production globally. Its epidemic potential, capacity for rapid genetic evolution, and ability to cause significant yield losses make it a persistent threat to global food security. Traditional management approaches, primarily reliant on resistant cultivars and fungicide applications, have been challenged by the emergence of new virulent pathogen races and issues of fungicide resistance. In this context, there is an urgent need to develop and implement sustainable control strategies as part of integrated management systems for wheat stripe rust. Such approaches must balance efficacy, economic viability, environmental stewardship, and social acceptability. This paper provides an in-depth overview of sustainable control strategies within integrated management frameworks for wheat stripe rust, synthesizing recent advances in plant pathology, crop management, energy systems, sustainability science, and digital agriculture. By drawing on cross-disciplinary insights, especially from energy management, industrial process control, and sustainability integration in business and agricultural systems, this review elucidates how innovation in control strategies can address the multifaceted challenges posed by wheat stripe rust.