Lentil rust: Present status and future prospects

Lentil is an important component of farming systems in many countries. It enriches soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and green manuring, and serves as a source of dietary protein and other essential micronutrients in human nutrition. Rust, caused by the fungus Uromyces viciae-fabae, is damaging to lentil crops and limits production in many countries. A general review of lentil rust was published in 1998. In the present review, an account of the current state of research on lentil rust, caused by U. viciae-fabae, is provided. The review deals with lentil rust symptoms, economic importance, taxonomy, geographic distribution of the disease, host range, physiologic races, mechanism of attack, epidemiology and disease management, as well as some elements of future research.

► A review of the biology, nomenclature, epidemiology and control of lentil rust. ► The provision of a key reference for the lentil rust pathosystem. ► An improved understanding of lentil rust should lead to improved disease management.