Rust-proof leeks are the latest development to be launched by scientists at Warwick HRI.

A serious disease for leeks, rust is caused by the fungus Puccinia porri, and the symptoms are elongated or circular bright orange or brown pustules on leaves.

To develop resistant lines, leek has been crossed with Allium commutatum, a wild relative of leek with a naturally high rust resistance.

A number of fertile lines have been selected from the progeny and these combine the general agronomic attributes of leek with the high rust resistance of Allium commutatum.

Warwick is now making the materials available to commercial leek breeders and in October, representatives of nine breeding companies visited the demonstration trial at the Wellesbourne site of Warwick HRI.

The trial confirmed the effectiveness of the resistance compared to currently available varieties supplied by the breeding companies.