1. Advances like these suggest the march of wheat rust can be halted, though at a cost.

2. So far, wheat rust has not caused the disaster that scientists fear.

3. The results provide an useful aid to establish the system of molecular detection for the physiological races of wheat rust fungi.

4. It has been demonstrated that the reasonable use of resistant wheat cultivars is the most effective and economical method to control wheat rust diseases.

5. The project will involve screening several thousand wheat samples, provided by both centres, for useful traits — particularly against a new strain of stem wheat rust, Ug99.

6. And while breeding programmes continuously develop resistant varieties, fungicides can be used to control wheat rust in cases of emergency.

7. Developing countries need help with crop surveillance and the development of strains resistant to wheat rust, say agricultural research leaders.

8. Norman Borlaug, the great American agronomist who died last year, conducted his original research into wheat rust.