In early May 2018, wheat pests and diseases were monitored using remote sensing in Russia, France, Turkey, Pakistan, United States, Germany, Iran, Uzbekistan, and the United Kingdom, generally showing only slight infestation levels. The distribution of wheat in 2018 is shown for the countries of interest in Figure 1.1. Cultivated areas are listed in Table 1.2 below.

Figure 1.1 Distribution of some winter wheat cultivation areas in north Hemisphere (2018)

Distribution of wheat pests and diseases

The distribution of winter wheat diseases in the northern hemisphere during early May 2018 is shown in Figure 1.2 and Table 1.1.

The area affected by wheat rust in Russia accounts for 9% of the total wheat area, with the disease mainly occurring in the Caucasus and the central economic region. In France, the disease occurs mainly in the maize, barley and livestock zone along the English Channel and the mixed maize/barley and rapeseed zone from the center to the Atlantic Ocean (4% of cultivated areas). 12% of wheat areas are infested in Turkey, mainly in central Anatolia, and the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean lowland region. Affected areas in Pakistan reach 17%, essentially the northern highlands and northern Punjab.  The affected areas in Iran (10%) occur mainly in the semi-arid to sub-tropical hills of the west and the north. In Uzbekistan the rust affects 14% of wheat areas, mainly in eastern hilly cereals zone and in the Aral Sea cotton zone. In the United Kingdom the pathogen occurs in 8% of wheat areas, mainly in the south English mixed wheat and barley zone, and sparse crop area of N England, Wales and N. Ireland.

Fusarium head blight is mentioned essentially for the United States where the fungus occurs in 5% of wheat growing areas, mainly in the southern plains, California, and the northwest.

Figure 1.2 Distribution of winter wheat diseases in the northern Hemisphere (early May 2018)

The area affected by wheat aphids in Russia accounts for 10% of the total wheat area, with the pest mainly occurring in the Volga basin, the Caucasus, and the central economic Region. The affected area in France is the same as the one mentioned above for wheat rust. In Pakistan, the insect affects 22% of wheat areas, mainly in the northern highlands, northern Punjab, and lower Indus river basin in south Punjab and Sindh. In the United States infested areas cover 5% of wheat areas mainly in the southern plains and the northwest. In Germany,  the central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast, and the mixed wheat and sugar beets zone of the north-west are affected, representing 9% of wheat areas. In Iran, 12% of wheat areas suffered from aphids, mainly in the western hills and the north. The affected area in Uzbekistan encompasses 17% of wheat producing areas, mainly in the east.The affected area in the United Kingdom accounts for 11% of wheat land, mainly in the south English mixed wheat and barley zone.

Figure 1.3 Distribution of winter wheat pest for in the northern Hemisphere (early May 2018)

Table 1.2 Statistics of winter wheat diseases and pests in the northern Hemisphere (early May 2018)