Seedling and adult‐plant stage resistance of a world collection of barley genotypes to stripe rust

Barley stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. hordei (PSH) is one of the major diseases in barley production regions worldwide. A total of 336 barley genotypes with diverse genetic backgrounds targeted for low‐input barley production were tested for seedling and adult‐plant stage resistance against six PSH races (0S0, 0S0‐1, 1S0, 4S0, 5S0 and 7S0) originated from India. The seedling resistance was evaluated by inoculating the barley genotypes with six races separately under controlled conditions in Shimla, India. The same barley genotypes were evaluated for adult‐plant stage resistance in the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) of Rajasthan Agriculture University, Durgapura, Rajasthan, India. Out of the 336 barley genotypes tested for seedling resistance, 119 (35.4%), 101 (30.1%), 87 (25.9%), 100 (29.8%), 91 (27.1%) and 70 (20.8%) genotypes were resistant to races 0S0, 0S0‐1, 1S0, 4S0, 5S0 and 7S0, respectively. In the field, 102 (30.3%) genotypes showed the resistance response of which 18 (5.3%) genotypes were highly resistant to PSH. Barley genotypes AM‐14, AM‐177, AM‐37, AM‐120, AM‐300, AM‐36, AM‐103, AM‐189, AM‐291, AM‐275 and AM‐274 showed resistance response to all six races at seedling and adult‐plant stages. Seedling resistance reported in the current study is effective against the newly emerged race 7S0 and previously reported five races in India. Therefore, resistant barley genotypes identified in the current study provided effective protection against all six races at seedling and adult‐plant stages. The stripe rust resistance identified in the current studies may be potential donors of stripe rust resistance to barley breeding programmes in India and elsewhere.     

Characterising seedling and adult plant resistance to Puccinia hordei in Hordeum vulgare

A set of 113 genotypes of barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare), along with the susceptible control genotype Gus, was tested for response to the barley leaf rust pathogen Puccinia hordei in the greenhouse (as seedlings) and field (as adult plants). The tests revealed that 68 lines carried adult plant resistance (APR), 23 lines carried uncharacterised seedling resistance (USR) and that three lines carried the seedling resistance gene Rph3. Nineteen lines lacked detectable seedling resistance and were also susceptible in the field at adult plant growth stages. The presence of marker bPb‐0837, linked to the APR gene Rph20, in 35 of the 68 lines carrying APR, suggested they carry this gene. The remaining 33 lines, which lacked the Rph20 linked marker, are likely sources of new uncharacterised APR. Pedigree analysis of the 68 lines found to carry APR revealed that 32 were related to cv. Gull and to Hordeum laevigatum; two were related to cv. Bavaria and one related to cvv. Manchuria and Taganrog, suggesting that these genotypes may be the ancestral sources of the APR carried by each.     

Genetic research as the valid base of strategies for breeding rust resistant wheats

It is known that few wheat cultivars maintain their resistance to rust diseases for a long period of time, particularly when crop populations become genetically more uniform. A number of genetically diverse, so far unexploited, sources of rust resistance in the natural as well as mutagenized population of wheat cultivars were identified. Several of these genes were placed in agronomically superior well-adapted backgrounds so that they could be used as pre-breeding stocks for introducing genetic diversity for resistance in a crop population. Some of these stocks when employed as parents in several cross combinations in a breeding programme have generated a number of promising cultivars with diversity for resistance.Many presently grown wheats in India, near-isogenic lines each with Lr14b, Lr14ab, Lr30 and certain international cultivars were identified as possessing diverse sources of adult plant resistance (APR) to leaf rust. Prolonged leaf rust resistance in some of the Indian cultivars was attributed to the likely presence of Lr34 either alone or in combination with other APR components. Tests of allelism carried out in certain cultivars that continue to show adequate levels of field resistance confirm the presence of Lr34, which explains the role that this gene has played in imparting durability for resistance to leaf rust. Also, Lr34 in combination with other APR components increases the levels of resistance, which suggests that combination of certain APR components should be another important strategy for breeding cultivars conferring durable and adequate levels of resistance. A new adult plant leaf rust resistance source that seems to be associated with durability in Arjun has been postulated. Likewise, cultivars possessing Sr2 in combination with certain other specific genes have maintained resistance to stem rust.Further, non-specific resistances that were transferred across widely different genotypes into two of the popular Indian wheats provided easily usable materials to the national breeding programmes for imparting durable resistance to stripe rust.     

The Lr34 adult plant rust resistance gene provides seedling resistance in durum wheat without senescence

The hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) adult plant resistance gene, Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38/Ltn1, provides broad‐spectrum resistance to wheat leaf rust (Lr34), stripe rust (Yr18), stem rust (Sr57) and powdery mildew (Pm38) pathogens, and has remained effective in wheat crops for many decades. The partial resistance provided by this gene is only apparent in adult plants and not effective in field‐grown seedlings. Lr34 also causes leaf tip necrosis (Ltn1) in mature adult plant leaves when grown under field conditions. This D genome‐encoded bread wheat gene was transferred to tetraploid durum wheat (T. turgidum) cultivar Stewart by transformation. Transgenic durum lines were produced with elevated gene expression levels when compared with the endogenous hexaploid gene. Unlike nontransgenic hexaploid and durum control lines, these transgenic plants showed robust seedling resistance to pathogens causing wheat leaf rust, stripe rust and powdery mildew disease. The effectiveness of seedling resistance against each pathogen correlated with the level of transgene expression. No evidence of accelerated leaf necrosis or up‐regulation of senescence gene markers was apparent in these seedlings, suggesting senescence is not required for Lr34 resistance, although leaf tip necrosis occurred in mature plant flag leaves. Several abiotic stress‐response genes were up‐regulated in these seedlings in the absence of rust infection as previously observed in adult plant flag leaves of hexaploid wheat. Increasing day length significantly increased Lr34 seedling resistance. These data demonstrate that expression of a highly durable, broad‐spectrum adult plant resistance gene can be modified to provide seedling resistance in durum wheat.     

Reaction of some wheat cultivars and breeding lines to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici hot races in Iran

Many physiological races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici which cause stripe rust in wheat can be determined in different parts of the world. The emergence of new races with different pathogenicity which happens very quickly breaks cultivars resistant and cause disease. Therefore, breeding cultivar for resistance to different pathogenic races should be continued. In this research, pathogenicity of two isolates collected from two regions of Iran were determined by using wheat yellow rust differential lines, which indicated race 70E50A+ and 6E18A+ The responses of 30 wheat genotypes were separately evaluated in the forms of randomized complete block design with three replicates in the seedling stage under greenhouse condition. The components of resistance including latent period and infection type were recorded. Results indicated genotypes were evaluated in terms of both traits and were significant at 1% level. Also, the results from pathogenicity study indicated of effective gene/s included Yr1, Yr2+, Yr3, Yr4, Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, Yr24, Yr26, YrSP, YrND, YrSD and YrSU. From the genotypes studied in the greenhouse condition, 39% of the genotypes showed complete resistance to both races. Probably, resistance genes, Yr32 and YrCV, or the other unknown genes which are types of seedling resistance are either alone or in combination of one another cause strength in resistant genotypes.     

Genetics study of resistance to yellow rust in CIMMYT origin wheat advanced lines at seedling and adult plant stages

To study genetically and evaluate resistance to yellow rust, 29 wheat advanced lines were evaluated in randomised complete blocks design with three replicates in seedling stage under greenhouse conditions using nine races 6E150A+, 198E150A+, 134E150A+, 6E158A+, 166E150A+, 198E130A+, 166E158A+, 230E158A+ and 70E0A+, separately. In the adult plant stage, the genotypes were evaluated in two regions of Iran, Zarghan and Gorgan. The components of resistance including latent period and infection type were recorded under greenhouse conditions. Cluster analysis in all races showed that the genotypes 11, 28 and 29 were completely resistant to all races. Under Zarghan and Gorgan races, 27 and 73% of genotypes were resistant in the adult plant stage, respectively. Seven percent of genotypes were resistant in both stages, seedling and adult plant. All resistant lines can be used in plant breeding programme.     

Molecular Detection of Stripe Rust Resistance Gene(s) in 115 Wheat Cultivars (lines) from the Yellow and Huai River Valley Wheat Region

Stripe rust (yellow rust), caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (Pst), is a serious disease of wheat worldwide, including China. Growing resistant cultivars is the most cost‐effective and environmentally friendly approach to control the disease. To assess the stripe rust resistance in commercial wheat cultivars and advanced lines in the Yellow and Huai River Valley Wheat Region, 115 wheat cultivars (lines) collected from 13 provinces in this region were evaluated with the most prevalent Chinese Pst races CYR32, CYR33 and the new race V26 at seedling stage. In addition, these wheat entries were inoculated with the mixed races of CYR32 and CYR33 at the adult‐plant stage in the field. The results indicated that 53 (46.1%) cultivars (lines) had all‐stage resistance to all the three races, and 16 (13.9%) cultivars (lines) showed adult‐plant resistance. The possible stripe rust resistance genes in these entries were postulated by the closely linked markers of all‐stage resistance genes Yr5, Yr9, Yr10, Yr15 and Yr26 and adult‐plant resistance gene Yr18. Molecular analysis indicated that resistance genes Yr5, Yr9, Yr10, Yr18 and Yr26 were found in 5 (4.3%), 38 (33.0%), 1 (0.9%), 2 (1.7%) and 8 (7.0%) entries, respectively. No entry was found to carry the Yr15 gene. In future breeding programs, Yr5, Yr15 and Yr18 should be used to pyramid with other effective genes to develop wheat cultivars with high‐level and durable resistance to stripe rust, whereas Yr9, Yr10 and Yr26 should not be used or used in a limited way due to the virulent races present in China.     

Mapping novel sources of leaf rust and stripe rust resistance introgressed from Triticum dicoccoides in cultivated tetraploid wheat background

Wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, the progenitor of modern tetraploid and hexaploid wheats, is an important resource for new variability for disease resistance genes. T. dicoccoides accession pau4656 showed resistance against prevailing leaf rust and stripe rust races in India and was used for developing stable introgression lines (IL) in T. durum cv Bijaga yellow and named as IL pau16068. F₅ Recombinant inbred lines (F₅ RILs) were developed by crossing IL pau16068 with T. durum cultivar PBW114 and RIL population was screened against highly virulent Pt and Pst pathotypes at the seedling and adult plant stages. Inheritance analyses revealed that population segregated for two genes for all stage resistance (ASR) against leaf rust, one ASR gene against stripe rust and three adult plant resistance (APR) genes for stripe rust resistance. For mapping these genes a set of 483 SSR marker was used for bulked segregant analysis. The markers showing diagnostic polymorphism in the resistant and susceptible bulks were amplified on all RILs. Single marker analysis placed all stage leaf rust resistance genes on chromosome 6A and 2A linked to the SSR markers Xwmc256 and Wpaus268, respectively. Likewise one all stage stripe rust resistance gene were mapped on long arm of chromosome 6A linked to markers 6AL-5833645 and 6AL-5824654 and two APR genes mapped on chromosomes 2A and 2B close to the SSR marker Wpaus268 and Xbarc70, respectively. The current study identified valuable leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes effective against multiple rust races for deployment in the wheat breeding programme.

     

Genetic and molecular analyses of resistance to a variant of Puccinia striiformis in barley

Seedlings of 62 Australian barley cultivars and two exotic barley genotypes were assessed for resistance to a variant of Puccinia striiformis, referred to as “Barley Grass Stripe Rust” (BGYR), first detected in Australia in 1998, which is capable of infecting wild Hordeum species and some genotypes of cultivated barley. Fifty-three out of 62 cultivated barley cultivars tested were resistant to the pathogen. Genetic analyses of seedling resistance to BGYR in six Australian barley cultivars and one Algerian barley landrace indicated that they carried either one or two major resistance genes to the pathogen. A single recessive seedling resistance gene, rpsSa3771, identified in Sahara 3771, was located on the long arm of chromosome 1 (7 H), flanked by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers Xwg420 and Xcdo347 at genetic distances of 12.8 and 21.9 cM, respectively. Mapping resistance to BGYR at adult plant growth stages using the doubled haploid (DH) population Clipper × Sahara 3771 identified two major quantitative trait loci (QTL), one on the long arm of chromosome 3 (3 H) and the second on the long arm of chromosome 1 (7 H), accounting for 26 % and 18 % of the total phenotypic variation, respectively. The QTL located on chromosome 7HL corresponded to seedling resistance gene rpsSa3771 and the second QTL was concluded to correspond to a single APR gene, designated rpsCl, contributed by cultivar Clipper.     

Pathogen‐inducible Ta‐Lr34res expression in heterologous barley confers disease resistance without negative pleiotropic effects

Plant diseases are a serious threat to crop production. The informed use of naturally occurring disease resistance in plant breeding can greatly contribute to sustainably reduce yield losses caused by plant pathogens. The Ta‐Lr34res gene encodes an ABC transporter protein and confers partial, durable, and broad spectrum resistance against several fungal pathogens in wheat. Transgenic barley lines expressing Ta‐Lr34res showed enhanced resistance against powdery mildew and leaf rust of barley. While Ta‐Lr34res is only active at adult stage in wheat, Ta‐Lr34res was found to be highly expressed already at the seedling stage in transgenic barley resulting in severe negative effects on growth. Here, we expressed Ta‐Lr34res under the control of the pathogen‐inducible Hv‐Ger4c promoter in barley. Sixteen independent barley transformants showed strong resistance against leaf rust and powdery mildew. Infection assays and growth parameter measurements were performed under standard glasshouse and near‐field conditions using a convertible glasshouse. Two Hv‐Ger4c::Ta‐Lr34res transgenic events were analysed in detail. Plants of one transformation event had similar grain production compared to wild‐type under glasshouse and near‐field conditions. Our results showed that negative effects caused by constitutive high expression of Ta‐Lr34res driven by the endogenous wheat promoter in barley can be eliminated by inducible expression without compromising disease resistance. These data demonstrate that Ta‐Lr34res is agronomically useful in barley. We conclude that the generation of a large number of transformants in different barley cultivars followed by early field testing will allow identifying barley lines suitable for breeding.     

Genome-wide association study of stem rust resistance in a world collection of cultivated barley

Key message

QTL conferring a 14–40% reduction in adult plant stem rust severity to multiple races of Pgt were found on chromosome 5H and will be useful in barley breeding.

Abstract

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) is an important disease of barley. The resistance gene Rpg1 has protected the crop against stem rust losses for over 70 years in North America, but is not effective against the African Pgt race TTKSK (and its variants) nor the domestic race QCCJB. To identify resistance to these Rpg1-virulent races, the Barley iCore Collection, held by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service National Small Grains Collection was evaluated for adult plant resistance (APR) and seedling resistance to race TTKSK and APR to race QCCJB and the Pgt TTKSK composite of races TTKSK, TTKST, TTKTK, and TTKTT. Using a genome-wide association study approach based on 6224 single nucleotide polymorphic markers, seven significant loci for stem rust resistance were identified on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 3H, and 5H. The most significant markers detected were 11_11355 and SCRI_RS_177017 at 71–75 cM on chromosome 5H, conferring APR to QCCJB and TTKSK composite. Significant markers were also detected for TTKSK seedling resistance on chromosome 5H. All markers detected on 5H were independent of the rpg4/Rpg5 complex at 152–168 cM. This study verified the importance of the 11_11355 locus in conferring APR to races QCCJB and TTKSK and suggests that it may be effective against other races in the Ug99 lineage.

     

PCR markers for selection of adult plant leaf rust resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Adult plant resistance (APR) is considered potentially more durable for controlling barley leaf rust than seedling Rph (Resistance to Puccinia hordei) genes. A major gene for adult plant resistance to barley leaf rust has been mapped to the telomere region of chromosome 5HS. PCR-based molecular markers were developed for saturation of this region based on previously mapped simple sequence repeat, restriction fragment length polymorphism and Diversity Arrays Technology markers. In addition, defence gene homologue (DGH) and wheat expressed sequence tags mapped in specific bins were used to develop new PCR markers. Seventeen PCR-based markers were mapped to the short arm of chromosome 5H in 292 doubled haploid lines from a cross of Pompadour × Stirling, in which seven markers were mapped within 5 cM of the APR gene. The closest linked marker was about 0.7 cM from the APR gene. The wheat deletion bin map together with defence gene homologues was demonstrated to be an efficient tool for development of new molecular markers associated with the disease resistance gene. Four DGH markers were associated with the APR gene. The new molecular markers are a useful tool for marker-assisted selection of the APR gene and provided a better understanding of the molecular mechanism for leaf rust resistance.     

Stripe Rust Resistance in Roegneria kamoji (Poaceae: Triticeae) and its Genetic Analysis

The Roegneria kamoji accession ZY 1007 was resistant to the mixed predominant races of Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (Pst) in China based on field tests at adult‐plant stage. The seedling resistance evaluation of ZY 1007 showed that it was resistant to stripe rust physiological strains CYR29, CYR33 and PST‐V26, which were the predominant races of Pst in China. The female parent R. kamoji cv. Gansi No.1 (susceptible to Pst) was crossed with ZY 1007 (resistant to Pst). Parents, F₁ and F₂ populations were tested in a field inoculated with the mixed urediniospores. ZY 1007 and all the observed 11 F₁ hybrid plants were resistant, while plants of Gansi No.1 were susceptible. Among the 221 F₂ plants, 168 plants were resistant and 53 were susceptible, and the segregation of resistant and susceptible plants fits 3R:1S ratio (χ² = 0.074, P > 0.75). It confirmed that the resistance of stripe rust in ZY 1007 was controlled by a single dominant gene and temporarily designated as YrK1007.     

The draft genome of a wild barley genotype reveals its enrichment in genes related to biotic and abiotic stresses compared to cultivated barley

Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) is the progenitor of cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare) and provides a rich source of genetic variations for barley improvement. Currently, the genome sequences of wild barley and its differences with cultivated barley remain unclear. In this study, we report a high‐quality draft assembly of wild barley accession (AWCS276; henceforth named as WB1), which consists of 4.28 Gb genome and 36 395 high‐confidence protein‐coding genes. BUSCO analysis revealed that the assembly included full lengths of 95.3% of the 956 single‐copy plant genes, illustrating that the gene‐containing regions have been well assembled. By comparing with the genome of the cultivated genotype Morex, it is inferred that the WB1 genome contains more genes involved in resistance and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The presence of the numerous WB1‐specific genes indicates that, in addition to enhance allele diversity for genes already existing in the cultigen, exploiting the wild barley taxon in breeding should also allow the incorporation of novel genes. Furthermore, high levels of genetic variation in the pericentromeric regions were detected in chromosomes 3H and 5H between the wild and cultivated genotypes, which may be the results of domestication. This H. spontaneum draft genome assembly will help to accelerate wild barley research and be an invaluable resource for barley improvement and comparative genomics research.     

Mechanism of durable resistance: a new approach

Summary Wheat genotypes, including backcross derivatives of Thatcher carrying Lr10 and Lr23, substitution lines for Lr10 and Lr23 in Chinese Spring background and Chinese Spring and Thatcher were analysed against 21 pathotypes of leaf rust in seedling tests. Adult plant responses in all these stocks were observed in the field nurseries under exposure to the inoculum of the Indian virulent races of leaf rust. The seedling data demonstrated that both the substitution lines and the backcross derivatives for each gene carry identical pattern of infection for resistance. The high level of adult plant resistance in the substitution lines, in contrast to the backcross derivatives in Thatcher, has been postulated to be due to the combination of resistance contributed by Lr10 and adult plant Chinese Spring resistance or to Lr23 and Chinese Spring adult plant resistance. It has been suggested that genes Lr10 and Lr23 added to the Chinese Spring background provide sources for durable resistance, since Chinese Spring has continued to provide a moderate level of adult plant resistance to leaf rust for a very long time.     

Protecting South Asian Wheat Production from Stem Rust (Ug99) Epidemic

The Ug99 group of stem rust races (Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn.) has evolved and migrated. While the original variant overcame the widely deployed gene Sr31, and Sr21 (in Chinese Spring background), but not Sr21 in Einkorn, a new strain of Ug99, virulent on Sr24, was detected in 2006 and caused a severe epidemic in 2007 in Kenya. Forms virulent on Sr36 and Sr21 were identified in 2007. Likewise, an Ug99 variant virulent to both Sr21 and Sr24 was identified in 2008 in Kenya. Simultaneously, the original strain spread to Yemen and Sudan in 2006. Fears of a spread into Asia were confirmed when this race was detected in Iran in 2007. This has raised serious concerns that Ug99 could follow the same migratory route from Africa to Asia as Yr9 and cause major epidemics across the epidemiological region of South Asia. In 2005–06, screening in Kenya and Ethiopia of wheat materials from Asian countries revealed a very low frequency of lines resistant to Ug99 and its variants. Under the umbrella of the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI), significant efforts have been made to counter the challenges posed by Ug99 and its derivative races. Diverse sources of resistance to the pathogen have been identified and incorporated in high‐yielding wheat backgrounds. The most promising strategy has been to deploy spring wheat varieties possessing adult plant resistance (APR) in infested and bordering areas to decrease inoculum amounts and slow down the development of new virulence, for example four CIMMYT genotypes with Sr2+ have been released in Afghanistan and their seed is also distributed in region bordering Iran. For an immediate remedy, race‐specific resistance genes can be deployed in combinations using marker‐assisted selection. Several Ug99‐resistant varieties have already been released in South Asian countries (Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan), and seed dissemination is underway. The Ug99 risk in the region can be reduced to minimum levels by identifying, releasing and providing seed of high‐yielding and resistant cultivars.     

Virulence variation of Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici in Pakistan

Yellow rust populations of Pakistan were characterised for their virulence pathotypes/races and pathogenetic variation using seedling evaluation of differential genotypes under glasshouse conditions in Murree (6000 feet above sea level). Differential genotypes comprised a world set, an European set, near isogenic lines and the universally susceptible bread wheat cultivar “Morocco”. Over the two-year study a total of 18 race groups were identified. Out of these 18 race groups, several (68E0, 64E0, 66E0, 70E0, 6E0, 71E0, 6E0, 2E0, 67E0, and 68E16) were found previously. The new race group 70E32 found probably evolved because of mutation from the previously existing 70E16. Virulence frequencies of yellow rust (Yr) resistance genes were also determined on near isogenic lines. The highest virulence frequencies (%) were found for Yr7 (88%), Yr9 (57%), Yr18 (70%), and Yr24 (69%). Virulence frequencies were low for Yr 1 (4%), Yr5 (7%), Yr10 (10%) and Yr15 (4%). Our studies indicated that virulence existed for almost all yr genes, necessitating regular monitoring of the yellow rust populations and intensifying efforts to identify new sources of resistance to this pathogen.     

Molecular and phenotypic characterization of seedling and adult plant leaf rust resistance in a world wheat collection

Genetic resistance is the most effective approach to managing wheat leaf rust. The aim of this study was to characterize seedling and adult plant leaf rust resistance of a world wheat collection. Using controlled inoculation with ten races of Puccinia triticina, 14 seedling resistance genes were determined or postulated to be present in the collection. Lr1, Lr3, Lr10 and Lr20 were the most prevalent genes around the world while Lr9, Lr14b, Lr3ka and/or Lr30 and Lr26 were rare. To confirm some gene postulations, the collection was screened with gene-specific molecular markers for Lr1, Lr10, Lr21 and Lr34. Although possessing the Lr1 and/or Lr10 gene-specific marker, 51 accessions showed unexpected high infection types to P. triticina race BBBD. The collection was tested in the field, where rust resistance ranged from nearly immune or highly resistant with severity of 1 % and resistant host response to highly susceptible with severity of 84 % and susceptible host response. The majority of the accessions possessing the adult plant resistance (APR) gene Lr34 had a maximum rust severity of 0–35 %, similar to or better than accession RL6058, a Thatcher-Lr34 near-isogenic line. Many accessions displayed an immune response or a high level of resistance under field conditions, likely as a result of synergy between APR genes or between APR and seedling resistance genes. However, accessions with three or more seedling resistance genes had an overall lower field severity than those with two or fewer. Immune or highly resistant accessions are potential sources for improvement of leaf rust resistance. In addition, some lines were postulated to have known but unidentified genes/alleles or novel genes, also constituting potentially important sources of novel resistance.     

Genetic analysis of leaf rust resistance genes and associated markers in the durable resistant wheat cultivar Sinvalocho MA

In the cross of the durable leaf rust resistant wheat Sinvalocho MA and the susceptible line Gama6, four specific genes were identified: the seedling resistance gene Lr3, the adult plant resistance (APR) genes LrSV1 and LrSV2 coming from Sinvalocho MA, and the seedling resistance gene LrG6 coming from Gama6. Lr3 was previously mapped on 6BL in the same cross. LrSV1 was mapped on chromosome 2DS where resistance genes Lr22a and Lr22b have been reported. Results from rust reaction have shown that LrSV1 from Sinvalocho is not the same allele as Lr22b and an allelism test with Lr22a showed that they could be alleles or closely linked genes. LrSV1 was mapped in an 8.5-cM interval delimited by markers gwm296 distal and gwm261 proximal. Adult gene LrSV2 was mapped on chromosome 3BS, cosegregating with gwm533 in a 7.2-cM interval encompassed by markers gwm389 and gwm493, where other disease resistance genes are located, such as seedling gene Lr27 for leaf rust, Sr2 for stem rust, QTL Qfhs.ndsu-3BS for resistance to Fusarium gramineum and wheat powdery mildew resistance. The gene LrG6 was mapped on chromosome 2BL, with the closest marker gwm382 at 0.6 cM. Lines carrying LrSV1, LrSV2 and LrG6 tested under field natural infection conditions, showed low disease infection type and severity, suggesting that this kind of resistance can be explained by additive effects of APR and seedling resistance genes. The identification of new sources of resistance from South American land races and old varieties, supported by modern DNA technology, contributes to sustainability of agriculture through plant breeding.