Time: From April 10^th, 2024 to April 23^rd , 2024（14 days)

Language: English

1. Project Background

Improving wheat production levels is a key measure to address food security issues and alleviate poverty in Sub-Saharan African countries south of the Sahara. Wheat is one of the main cereal crops in these countries, with an area of approximately 3.1 million hectares and a total production of over 9 million tons. However, in recent years, wheat stem rust has become a major epidemic and a primary disease in the region, causing yield reductions of over 20% in epidemic years and posing a serious threat to human and animal health due to the presence of mycotoxins. Due to the lack of disease-resistant varieties and breeding and disease prevention technologies locally, controlling wheat stem rust has become a technical bottleneck restricting wheat yield and quality in Sub-Saharan African countries south of the Sahara.

2. Training Objectives:

Through training in techniques such as screening for resistance sources, breeding methods, breeding of new varieties, disease prediction and forecasting, chemical control techniques, and mycotoxin detection, the aim is to impart and share the successful experiences and disease prevention technologies of wheat breeding for stem rust resistance in China, and to establish a platform for exchange in wheat breeding for stem rust resistance between China and Africa. This platform aims to provide technical and personnel support for solving the problem of wheat stem rust resistance breeding in Africa, enhancing the research and control level of wheat diseases in Sub-Saharan African countries south of the Sahara, and improving wheat production levels in Africa.

3. Memories

3.1 Group Photo Taken at Opening Ceremony

3.2 Visit to Institute of Crop Sciences, CAAS

3.3 Participants in the Experimental Field

3.4 Tea Culture Experience in the Shi-Shan-Xia Village