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　　Wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） is the most important food crop worldwide， which provides one-fifth of the protein and calories to more than 4.5 billion people. Yellow rust （also called stripe rust） caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici， is one of the most destructive wheat diseases， which can result in significant yield losses or huge investment in chemical control. The extended Himalaya region （such as Nepal， Pakistan and China） is identified as a hotspot of sexual recombination and genetic diversity as well as the putative center of origin of the pathogen， while the Middle East is the center of origin for common wheat along with the source of high temperature adapted strain. These areas are critical for wheat yellow rust epidemic around the world. Therefore， it is crucial to know the details about wheat yellow rust situation and research progress in these hotspot regions. However， there was a lack of such a comprehensive book regarding wheat yellow rust focusing on these important regions. This was an incentive for us to write this book.Compilation of information on yellow rust research in these regions is further important due to the potential invasions across these areas and to other parts of the world， as reported in recent past. There is a dire need for collaborative efforts at the regional and global level to anticipate and adopt preemptive measures to avoid such invasions. To initiate such a collaboration， it is highly important to provide a comprehensive background of various research work done in different countries. This provides another reason to compile such a book with contribution from experts from various countries of these regions.

　　Mingju Li，Yunnan Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Agricultural Transboundary Pests， Agricultural Environment and Resources Institute， Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences， Kunming， China.Sajid Ali，Department of Agriculture （Plant Breeding and Genetics）， Hazara University， Mansehra， Pakistan