Food security: Researchers discover gene for resistance against a disease that ravages rice and wheat crops

Blast disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is a veritable plague in agriculture. In addition to devastating rice crops—the staple food of 60% of the world’s population—it began attacking wheat in the 1980s, across a growing area of distribution and with a serious risk of emergence in Europe. Blast disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is a veritable plague in agriculture. In addition to devastating rice crops—the staple food of 60% of the world’s population—it began attacking wheat in the 1980s, across a growing area of distribution and with a serious risk of emergence in Europe. Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Phys.org – latest science and technology news stories