This collection features five peer-reviewed reviews on rust diseases of cereals.The first chapter provides an overview of the wheat rust pathogen lifecycle and discusses recent integration of basic biological knowledge and genomic-led tools within an epidemiological framework.The second chapter introduces stripe rust and provides an overview of its decimation of crop yields worldwide. The chapter summarises recent advances in identifying stripe rust resista...

This specially curated collection features four reviews of current and key research on supporting cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa.The first chapter reviews how research and development can support smallholder wheat farmers through improving access to resources and services. The chapter considers current obstacles faced by smallholder farmers, including biophysical limitations such as climatic issues, as well as socio-economic limitations such as land availability.Th...

Discusses ways of ensuring genetic diversity, advances in wheat breeding and their use to improve properties such as drought resistance and cold tolerance;Summarises research on factors affecting nutritional and other aspects of wheat quality;Reviews advances in understanding wheat pests and diseases together with ways of controlling them such as disease-resistant varieties, integrated pest and weed management

Reviews advances in cultivation practice such as seed establishment and more efficient irrigation techniques;Summarises developments in ‘climate smart’ agriculture such as conservation tillage and organic wheat cultivation;Discusses ways of supporting smallholders improve wheat cultivation in North Africa and other regions in the developing world