The symposium was established to provide scientific information in the form of paper presentations and a forum for discussion of the newly discovered and quarantined Karnal bunt fungus, Tilletia indica, in the United States. Fourteen paper presentations from the United States, Mexico, India and Australia formed the basis of the symposium along with commentary by elected and government officials. Participants were invited to comment directly on the paper and commentary presentations or head into discussion sessions. In the discussion sessions, participants could introduce themselves, find out what was happening in their region, find out how laboratories were diagnosing Karnal bunt, or examine various issues on Karnal bunt. Links to other internet sites with information on Karnal bunt were also included (not active in archived version).

The online symposium lead into a half day symposium on Karnal bunt at the annual APS meetings in Indianapolis in August. Out of discussions generated during these and other events the APS developed and published a position statement on Karnal bunt which is archived with this forum.

During the course of this event approximately 500 growers, shippers, scientists, regulatory and government officials visited and participated in the event. The controversy over the discovery of this fungus in the United States, the resulting quarantines, the importance of Karnal bunt as a wheat pathogen and it's significance politically will undoubtedly continue for some time to come.

The Official APS Position Statement on Karnal bunt, as posted after the live event.

The Society wishes to extend its thanks and appreciation to the following four people who acted as organizers:

Laurence V. Madden, Plant Pathology Department, Ohio State University

Don E. Mathre, Plant Pathology Department, Montana State University

Gregory E. Shaner, Botany & Plant Pathology Department, Purdue University

James D. MacDonald, Plant Pathology Department, University of California.