Word: 15b
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Imperial Valley of California last week, twelve acres of assorted wheat plants were growing in the hot desert sun. Department of Agriculture scientists, tending them as carefully as premature babies, hope that one or more of the 600 varieties now being tested will overcome "Race 15B," the new strain of black stem rust that is seriously threatening the U.S. wheat crop...
...special rust god, Robigus, and blamed him for its outbreaks. U.S. plant scientists thought they had licked it. They bred rustproof wheat varieties that kept U.S. fields almost clear of the disease for 15 years, accounting for a good part of recent bumper wheat crops. Last summer Race 15B, a new, extra-virulent strain, appeared on wheat from Pennsylvania to Texas. It attacked all commercial varieties. Durum wheat, used for making spaghetti, was hardest hit, with 10 million bushels lost...
...varieties look good. In May their seed will be harvested and planted again in states where spring wheat is normally grown; then back to California for another winter growing season. Not for another four or five years will U.S. farmers have a wheat variety that is proof against Race 15B. Until then, Government scientists can only hope for the best...