Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Barley Leaf Diseases

Abstract

The 2nd International Workshop on Barley Leaf Diseases (2nd IWBLD) is being organized by ICARDA at Rabat, Morocco, April 5-7, 2017. The workshop will provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas relating to understanding and controlling leaf diseases of barley. The goal of the event is to bring together international experts and young students interested in recent advanced studies in all aspects (theoretical and applied) of barley leaf diseases. Leaf diseases of barley are of economic importance and cause heavy losses in the WANA region. Most of the barley in this region is cultivated under challenging moisture and temperature conditions with minimum inputs and targeted as a food and feed/grazing crop for humans and livestock, respectively. Across the WANA region, foliar diseases result in poor grain yield as well as reduced quality of grain, forage and other components. Chemical control measures are seldom if ever used in this region; thus, to ensure sustainable barley production of the highest quality possible for various end uses, an integrated approach is needed. To produce a healthy barley, crop biotic stress management is an important requirement so that it can withstand the abiotic stresses in the region. The 2017 Rabat event is a continuation of the 1st IWBLD, held in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy during June 2014. The 1st IWBLD, replaced the “International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights”, with the ISC’s goal to include a wider group of researchers investigating all barley leaf diseases, instead of only leaf blights.