The disease: symptomatology and host range of barley yellow dwarf; Distribution and economic importance of barley yellow dwarf; Epidemiology of barley yellow dwarf in Europe; Epidemiology of barley yellow dwarf in Australasia; Interactions of barley yellow dwarf viruses: cross-protection and interactions with other pathogens and with abiotic factors; The viruses: purification and viron characterization of barley yellow dwarf viruses; Genome structure and function of barley yellow dwarf viruses; Taxonomy of barley yellow dwarf viruses; The vectors: biology and taxonomy of vectors of barley yellow dwarf viruses; Aphid transmission of barley yellow dwarf viruses: interactions between viruses, and host plants; Control: barley yellow dwarf: diagnostic procedures and reagents; Cultural chemical, and biological methods for the control of barley yellow dwarf; Host plant tolerance or resistance for control of barley yellow dwarf; Prospects for genetically engineered resistance to barley yellow dwarf viruses.

Wheat breeders have achieved significant results over the last fifty years in research on mankind's one of the most important crops. Classical genetic and breeding methods, far broader international cooperation than was experienced in earlier periods, and improvements in agronomic techniques have led to previously unimaginable development in the utilisation of wheat for human consumption. The contribution of wheat researchers is particularly noteworthy since these results have been achieved at a time when the world population has grown extremely dynamically. Despite this demographic explosion, of a proportion never previously experienced, thousands of millions of people have been saved from starvation, thus avoiding unpredictable social consequences and situations irreconcilable with human dignity. Despite these developments in many regions of the world food supplies are still uncertain and the increase in the world's wheat production has not kept pace with the population increase during the last decade. Due to the evils of civilisation and the pollution of the environment there is a constant decline in the per capita area of land suitable for agricultural production. Based on population estimates for 2030, the present wheat yield of around 600 million tonnes will have to be increased to almost 1000 million tonnes if food supplies are to be maintained at the present level.