Wheat is, next to rice, the most important cereal
crop in Bangladesh, but its cultivation is decreasing
gradually, and the yield is lower than in our neighbouring
countries. This may be one of the reasons
for the decreasing wheat area. Diseases play a vital
role in the yield of the crop. Leaf blight caused by
Helminthosporium sativum (Syn. Cochliobolus sativus:
Bipolaris spp.) is the major and a devastating
disease of wheat in Bangladesh. It can cause
seedling blight, head blight, black pointed grain
and may result in sterile spikes, if the infection is
severe. The disease is of serious concern to wheat
growers and researchers in Bangladesh and a research
programme was undertaken to find leaf
blight resistant wheat material.