Molecular markers for adult plant leaf rust resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr48</Emphasis> in wheat

Leaf rust of wheat, caused by Puccinia triticina, is an important disease throughout the world. The adult plant leaf rust resistance gene Lr48 reported in CSP44 was previously mapped in chromosome 2B, but the marker–gene association was weak. In this study, we confirmed the location of Lr48 to be in the short arm of chromosome 2B and identified closely linked markers suitable for use in breeding. The CSP44/WL711 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (90 lines) showed monogenic segregation for Lr48. Twelve resistant and 12 susceptible RILs were used for selective genotyping using an iSelect 90K Infinium SNP assay. Closely linked SNPs were converted into Kompetitive allele-specific primers (KASP) and tested on the parental lines. KASP markers giving clear clusters for alternate genotypes were assayed on the entire RIL population. SNP markers IWB31002, IWB39832, IWB34324, IWB72894 and IWB36920 co-segregated with Lr48 and the marker IWB70147 was mapped 0.3 cM proximal to this gene. Closely linked KASP markers were tested on a set of Australian and Nordic wheat genotypes. The amplification of SNP alleles alternate to those linked with Lr48 in the majority of the Australian and Nordic wheat genotypes demonstrated the usefulness of these markers for marker-assisted pyramiding of Lr48 with other rust resistance genes.     

Genetics of adult plant stripe rust resistance in CSP44, a selection from Australian wheat

Wheat line CSP44, a selection from an Australian bread wheat cultivar Condor, has shown resistance to stripe rust in India since the last twenty years. Seedlings and adult plants of CSP44 showed susceptible infection types against stripe rust race 46S119 but displayed average terminal disease severity of 2.67 on adult plants against this race as compared to 70.33 of susceptible Indian cultivar, WL711. This suggests the presence of nonhypersensitive adult plant stripe rust resistance in the line CSP44. The evaluation of F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations and F₆ SSD families from the cross of CSP44 with susceptible wheat cultivar WL711 for stripe rust severity indicated that the resistance in CSP44 is based on two genes showing additive effect. One of these two genes isYr18 and the second gene is not yet described.     

Genetics of adult-plant leaf-rust resistance in four Indian and two Australian bread wheat cultivars.

Genetic studies for leaf-rust resistance were conducted on four Indian (CPAN1235, HD2135, HP1209, and VL404) and two Australian (CSP44 and Oxley) bread wheat cultivars. The F2 and F3 plants from their crosses with each other and with susceptible cultivar Agra Local were tested against a mixture of pathotypes 77-1 and 77-2 (variants of race 77). Disease scores on F1's from resistant/susceptible parent crosses indicated partial dominance of resistance in these wheats. The six cultivars have two adult-plant resistance genes each. Their intercrosses revealed similar resistance gene(s) in CSP44 and Oxley, and CPAN1235 and HP1209. The six wheats appear to carry at least seven diverse leaf-rust resistance genes (temporarily named LrI to LrO) against pathotypes 77-1 + 77-2. Adult-plant resistance is additive and therefore the combinations of partially effective resistance genes identified in this study can provide higher levels of resistance. Because these genes are of hexaploid origin, they can be easily exploited in breeding programs. Furthermore, two or more resistance genes from the six wheat cultivars when combined with Lr34 are likely to impart durable resistance to leaf rust.     

Genetics of durable resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust of an Indian wheat cultivar HD2009

The Indian bread wheat cultivar HD2009 has maintained its partial resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust in India since its release in 1976. To examine the nature, number and mode of inheritance of its genes for partial leaf rust and stripe rust resistance, this cultivar was crossed with cultivar WL711, which is susceptible to leaf rust and stripe rust. The F1, F2, F3 and F5 generations from this cross were assessed separately for adult plant disease severity under artificial epidemic of race 77-5 of leaf rust and race 46S119 of stripe rust. Segregation for rust reaction in the F2, F3 and F5 generations indicated that resistance to each of these rust diseases is based on 2 genes, each with additive effects. Although the leaf rust resistance of HD2009 is similar in expression to that conferred by the gene Lr34, but unlike the wheats carrying this gene, cultivar HD2009 did not show leaf tip necrosis, a morphological marker believed to be tightly linked to the leaf rust resistance gene Lr34. Thus, the non-hypersensitive resistance of HD2009 was ascribed to genes other than Lr34.     

Molecular markers for wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr41

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks., is an important foliar disease of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Pyramiding several major rust-resistance genes into one adapted cultivar is one strategy for obtaining more durable resistance. Molecular markers linked to these genes are essential tools for gene pyramiding. The rust-resistance gene Lr41 from T. tauschii has been introgressed into chromosome 2D of several wheat cultivars that are currently under commercial production. To discover molecular markers closely linked to Lr41, a set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of the hard winter wheat cultivar Century were developed through backcrossing. A population of 95 BC₃F_2:6 NILs were evaluated for leaf rust resistance at both seedling and adult plant stages and analyzed with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers using bulked segregant analysis. Four markers closely linked to Lr41 were identified on chromosome 2DS; the closest marker, Xbarc124, was about 1 cM from Lr41. Physical mapping using Chinese Spring nullitetrasomic and ditelosomic genetic stocks confirmed that markers linked to Lr41 were on chromosome arm 2DS. Marker analysis in a diverse set of wheat germplasm indicated that primers BARC124, GWM210, and GDM35 amplified polymorphic bands between most resistant and susceptible accessions and can be used for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs.     

Undescribed wheat gene for partial leaf rust and stripe rust resistance from Thatcher derivatives RL6058 and 90RN249 carryingLr34

Inheritance of partial leaf rust and stripe rust resistance of a Thatcher wheat 90RN2491, earlier reported to carry two doses of the gene pairLr34-Yr18 and the reference line RL6058 (6*Thatcher/PI58548) for theLr34-Yr18 gene pair was studied against predominant and highly virulent Indian races. Thatcher derivatives 90RN2491 and RL6058 were intercrossed as well as crossed with the leaf rust and stripe rust susceptible Indian cultivar WL711. The F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations from these crosses were assessed for rust severity against leaf rust race 77-5 and stripe rust race 46S119. The F₂ and F₃ generations from the crosses of RL6058 and 90RN2491 with WL711, segregated 15 resistant : 1 susceptible (F₂) and 7 homozygous resistant : 8 segregating : 1 homozygous susceptible (F₃) ratios, respectively, both for leaf rust and stripe rust severity. Therefore, partial resistance against each of the leaf rust and stripe rust races in both RL6058 and 90RN2491 is ascribed to two independently inherited dominant genes. One of the two genes for leaf rust and stripe rust resistance in 90RN2491 and RL6058 isLr34 and the linked geneYr18, respectively. The second leaf rust resistance gene in both the Thatcher lines segregated independently of stripe rust resistance. Therefore, it is notLr34 and it remains unidentified.     

Microsatellite mapping identifies TTKST-effective stem rust resistance gene in wheat cultivars VL404 and Janz

Wheat cultivar VL404 carries seedling resistance to Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici pathotype TTKST. Monogenic segregation for seedling resistance was observed in a VL404/WL711 recombinant inbred line population and the resistance locus was temporarily designated SrVL. Bulked segregant analysis using Diversity Arrays Technology markers located SrVL on chromosome 2BL. Detailed simple sequence repeat mapping placed SrVL between gwm120 and wmc175, both at genetic distances of 3.3 cM. Based on adult plant responses of Janz and VL404 in India and Kenya, we expected these cultivars to carry the same gene against TTKST. A subset of Diamondbird/Janz doubled haploid (DH) population showed monogenic segregation, when tested against TTKST and the locus was temporarily named SrJNZ. SrVL-linked markers gwm120 and wmc175 flanked SrJNZ at a similar genetic distance, thereby confirming our hypothesis. Chromosome 2BL carries Sr9, Sr16 and Sr28. Sr9 is a multi-allelic locus and all known alleles of Sr9 and Sr16 are ineffective against TTKSK and its derivatives. A recombination value of 16.7 cM between Sr9g-linked stripe rust resistance gene Yr7 and SrJNZ in Diamondbird/Janz DH population suggested that SrJNZ is not an allele at the Sr9 locus. Based on comparison of published genetic distances between Lr13, Sr9, Sr28 and Sr16 with that observed in this study, we concluded SrVL and SrJNZ to be Sr28. This gene was contributed by a common parent Gabo, which also exhibited resistance against TTKST. Sr28-linked markers gwm120 and wmc175 confirmed the presence of this gene in a high proportion of Australian cultivars that showed stem rust resistance in Kenya. These markers can be used for marker-assisted pyramiding of Sr28 with other stem rust resistance genes.     

Effect of gene Lr34 in the enhancement of resistance to leaf rust of wheat

Summary Leaf rust resistance gene Lr34 is present in many wheat cultivars throughout the world that have shown durable resistance to leaf rust. Fourteen pair-wise combinations of Lr34 and seedling leaf rust resistance genes were developed by intercrossing near isogenic Thatcher lines. In both seedling and adult plant tests homozygous paired combinations of specific resistance genes with Lr34 had enhanced resistance relative to either parent to different numbers of isolates that were avirulent to the additional resistance genes. The TcLr34, 18 line also expressed enhanced resistance to specific isolates virulent to Lr18 in seedling and adult plant stages. In rust nursery tests, homozygous lines were more resistant than either parent, if the additional leaf rust gene conditioned an effective of resistance when present singly. The ability of Lr34 to interact with other genes conditioning effective resistance may contribute to the durability of leaf rust resistance in cultivars with Lr34. Contribution 1453 Agriculture Canada     

Identification of microsatellite markers linked to leaf rust resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr25</Emphasis> in wheat

The leaf rust resistance gene Lr25, transferred from Secale cereale L. into wheat and located on chromosome 4B, imparts resistance to all pathotypes of leaf rust in South-East Asia. In an F₂-derived F₃ population, created by crossing TcLr25 that carries the gene Lr25 for leaf rust resistance with leaf rust-susceptible parent Agra Local, three microsatellite markers located on the long arm of chromosome 4B were found to be linked to the Lr25 locus. The donor parent TcLr25 is a near-isogenic line derived from the variety Thatcher. The most virulent pathotype of leaf rust in the South-East Asian region, designated 77–5 (121R63-1), was used for challenging the population under artificially controlled conditions. The marker Xgwm251 behaved as a co-dominant marker placed 3.8 cM away from the Lr25 locus on 4BL. Two null allele markers, Xgwm538 and Xgwm6, in the same linkage group were located at a distance of 3.8 cM and 16.2 cM from the Lr25 locus, respectively. The genetic sequence of Xgwm251, Lr25, Xgwm538, and Xgwm6 covered a total length of 20 cM on 4BL. The markers were validated for their specificity to Lr25 resistance in a set of 43 wheat genetic stocks representing 43 other Lr genes.     

Lr68: a new gene conferring slow rusting resistance to leaf rust in wheat

The common wheat cultivar Parula possesses a high level of slow rusting, adult plant resistance (APR) to all three rust diseases of wheat. Previous mapping studies using an Avocet-YrA/Parula recombinant inbred line (RIL) population showed that APR to leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) in Parula is governed by at least three independent slow rusting resistance genes: Lr34 on 7DS, Lr46 on 1BL, and a previously unknown gene on 7BL. The use of field rust reaction and flanking markers identified two F₆ RILs, Arula1 and Arula2, from the above population that lacked Lr34 and Lr46 but carried the leaf rust resistance gene in 7BL, hereby designated Lr68. Arula1 and Arula2 were crossed with Apav, a highly susceptible line from the cross Avocet-YrA/Pavon 76, and 396 F₄-derived F₅ RILs were developed for mapping Lr68. The RILs were phenotyped for leaf rust resistance for over 2 years in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, with a mixture of P. triticina races MBJ/SP and MCJ/SP. Close genetic linkages with several DNA markers on 7BL were established using 367 RILs; Psy1-1 and gwm146 flanked Lr68 and were estimated at 0.5 and 0.6 cM, respectively. The relationship between Lr68 and the race-specific seedling resistance gene Lr14b, located in the same region and present in Parula, Arula1 and Arula2, was investigated by evaluating the RILs with Lr14b-avirulent P. triticina race TCT/QB in the greenhouse. Although Lr14b and Lr68 homozygous recombinants in repulsion were not identified in RILs, γ-irradiation-induced deletion stocks that lacked Lr68 but possessed Lr14b showed that Lr68 and Lr14b are different loci. Flanking DNA markers that are tightly linked to Lr68 in a wide array of genotypes can be utilized for selection of APR to leaf rust.     

小麦农家品种赤壳中一个主效抗条锈病基因的微卫星标记和定位

小麦农家品种赤壳(苏1900)对当前我国小麦条锈菌(Puccinia striiformis Westend.f.sp.tritici)多个流行小种均有较好抗性。遗传分析表明,该品种对条中32号小种的抗性是由一对显性基因控制。本文采用分离群体分析法(bulked segregant analysis,BSA)和微卫星多态性分析方法,对该基因进行了分子标记和定位研究。用Taichung29×赤壳的F2代分离群体建立抗、感DNA池,共筛选了400多对SSR引物,发现5个标记Xwmc44、Xgwm259、Xwmc367、Xcfa2292、Xbarc80在抗、感DNA池间与在抗、感亲本间同样具有多态性,它们均位于1BL染色体臂上。经用具有140株抗病株、60株感病株共200株植株的F2代分离群体进行的遗传连锁性检测,上述5个标记均与目的基因相连锁,遗传距离分别为8.3cM、9.1cM、17.2cM、20.6cM和31.6cM。用全套21个中国春缺-四体材料进行的检测进一步证实了这5个SSR标记均位于小麦1B染色体上。综合上述结果,将赤壳中的主效抗条锈病基因YrChk定位在1BL染色体臂上。与以前已定位于1B染色体上的抗条锈病基因的比较研究表明,YrChk基因可能是一个新的抗条锈病基因。小麦农家品种中抗病基因资源的发掘和利用将有助于提高我国小麦生产品种中的抗病基因丰富度,有助于改善长期以来小麦生产品种中抗病基因单一化的局面。     

Marker-assisted pyramiding of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Thinopyrum-</Emphasis>derived leaf rust resistance genes <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Lr19</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Lr24</Emphasis> in bread wheat variety HD2733

This study was undertaken to pyramid two effective leaf rust resistance genes (Lr19 and Lr24) derived from Thinopyrum (syn. Agropyron), in the susceptible, but agronomically superior wheat cultivar HD2733 using marker-assisted selection. In the year 2001, HD2733 was released for irrigated timely sown conditions of the north eastern plains zone (NEPZ) of India became susceptible to leaf rust, a major disease of the region. Background selection helped in developing near-isogenic lines (NILs) of HD2733 with Lr19 and Lr24 with 97.27 and \(98.94\%\), respectively, of genomic similarity with the parent cultivar, after two backcrossing and one generation of selfing. NILs were intercrossed to combine the genes Lr19 and Lr24. The combination of these two genes in the cultivar HD2733 is expected to provide durable leaf rust resistance in farmers’ fields.     

Characterization of Lr46, a gene conferring partial resistance to wheat leaf rust

Components of resistance conferred by the Lr46 gene, reported as causing "slow rusting" resistance to leaf rust in wheat, were studied and compared with the effects of Lr34 and genes for quantitative resistance in cv. Akabozu. Lr34 is a gene that confers non-hypersensitive type of resistance. The effect of Lr46 resembles that of Lr34 and other wheats reported with partial resistance. At macroscopic level, Lr46 produced a longer latency period than observed on the susceptible recurrent parent Lalbahadur, and a reduction of the infection frequency not associated with hypersensitivity. Microscopically, Lr46 increased the percentage of early aborted infection units not associated with host cell necrosis and decreased the colony size. The effect of Lr46 is comparable to that of Lr34 in adult plant stage, but in seedling stage its effect is weaker than that of Lr34.     

Resistance to stem rust Ug99 in six bread wheat cultivars maps to chromosome 6DS

Key message

Identified SSR markers ( Xcfd49 and Xbarc183 ) linked with stem rust resistance for efficient use in marker-assisted selection and stacking of resistance genes in wheat breeding programs.

Abstract

More than 80 % of the worldwide wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) area is currently sown with varieties susceptible to the Ug99 race group of stem rust fungus. However, wheat lines Niini, Tinkio, Coni, Pfunye, Blouk, and Ripper have demonstrated Ug99 resistance at the seedling and adult plant stages. We mapped stem rust resistance in populations derived from crosses of a susceptible parent with each of the resistant lines. The segregation of resistance in each population indicated the presence of a single gene. The resistance gene in Niini mapped to short arm of chromosome 6D and was flanked by SSR markers Xcfd49 at distances of 3.9 cM proximal and Xbarc183 8.4 cM distal, respectively. The chromosome location of this resistance was validated in three other populations: PBW343/Coni, PBW343/Tinkio, and Cacuke/Pfunye. Resistance initially postulated to be conferred by the SrTmp gene in Blouk and Ripper was also linked to Xcfd49 and Xbarc183 on 6DS, but it was mapped proximal to Xbarc183 at a similar position to previously mapped genes Sr42 and SrCad. Based on the variation in diagnostic marker alleles, it is possible that Niini and Pfunye may carry different resistance genes/alleles. Further studies are needed to determine the allelic relationships between various genes located on chromosome arm 6DS. Our results provide valuable molecular marker and genetic information for developing Ug99 resistant wheat varieties in diverse germplasm and using these markers to tag the resistance genes in wheat breeding.     

New slow-rusting leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr67</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yr46</Emphasis> in wheat are pleiotropic or closely linked

The common wheat genotype ‘RL6077’ was believed to carry the gene Lr34/Yr18 that confers slow-rusting adult plant resistance (APR) to leaf rust and stripe rust but located to a different chromosome through inter-chromosomal reciprocal translocation. However, haplotyping using the cloned Lr34/Yr18 diagnostic marker and the complete sequencing of the gene indicated Lr34/Yr18 is absent in RL6077. We crossed RL6077 with the susceptible parent ‘Avocet’ and developed F₃, F₄ and F₆ populations from photoperiod-insensitive F₃ lines that were segregating for resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust. The populations were characterized for leaf rust resistance at two Mexican sites, Cd. Obregon during the 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 crop seasons, and El Batan during 2009, and for stripe rust resistance at Toluca, a third Mexican site, during 2009. The F₃ population was also evaluated for stripe rust resistance at Cobbitty, Australia, during 2009. Most lines had correlated responses to leaf rust and stripe rust, indicating that either the same gene, or closely linked genes, confers resistance to both diseases. Molecular mapping using microsatellites led to the identification of five markers (Xgwm165, Xgwm192, Xcfd71, Xbarc98 and Xcfd23) on chromosome 4DL that are associated with this gene(s), with the closest markers being located at 0.4 cM. In a parallel study in Canada using a Thatcher × RL6077 F₃ population, the same leaf rust resistance gene was designated as Lr67 and mapped to the same chromosomal region. The pleiotropic, or closely linked, gene derived from RL6077 that conferred stripe rust resistance in this study was designated as Yr46. The slow-rusting gene(s) Lr67/Yr46 can be utilized in combination with other slow-rusting genes to develop high levels of durable APR to leaf rust and stripe rust in wheat.     

QTL for spot blotch resistance in bread wheat line Saar co-locate to the biotrophic disease resistance loci Lr34 and Lr46

Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a major disease of wheat in warm and humid wheat growing regions of the world including south Asian countries such as India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The CIMMYT bread wheat line Saar which carries the leaf tip necrosis (LTN)-associated rust resistance genes Lr34 and Lr46 has exhibited a low level of spot blotch disease in field trials conducted in Asia and South America. One hundred and fourteen recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of Avocet (Susceptible) × Saar, were evaluated along with parents in two dates of sowing in India for 3 years (2007–2008 to 2009–2010) to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with spot blotch resistance, and to determine the potential association of Lr34 and Lr46 with resistance to this disease. Lr34 was found to constitute the main locus for spot blotch resistance, and explained as much as 55 % of the phenotypic variation in the mean disease data across the six environments. Based on the large effect, the spot blotch resistance at this locus has been given the gene designation Sb1. Two further, minor QTL were detected in the sub-population of RILs not containing Lr34. The first of these was located about 40 cM distal to Lr34 on 7DS, and the other corresponded to Lr46 on 1BL. A major implication for wheat breeding is that Lr34 and Lr46, which are widely used in wheat breeding to improve resistance to rust diseases and powdery mildew, also have a beneficial effect on spot blotch.     

Identification and validation of molecular markers linked to the leaf rust resistance gene Lr19 in wheat

A leaf rust resistance gene Lr19 on the chromosome 7DL of wheat derived from Agropyron elongatum was tagged with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite markers. The F₂ population of 340 plants derived from a cross between the leaf rust resistant near-isogenic line (NIL) of Thatcher (Tc + Lr19) and leaf rust susceptible line Agra Local that segregated for dominant monogenic leaf rust resistance was utilized for generating the mapping population. The molecular markers were mapped in the F₂ derived F₃ homozygous population of 140 seedlings. Sixteen RAPD markers were identified as linked to the alien gene Lr19 among which eight were in a coupling phase linkage. Twelve RAPD markers co-segregated with Lr19 locus. Nine microsatellite markers located on the long arm of chromosome 7D were also mapped as linked to the gene Lr19, including 7 markers which co-segregated with Lr19 locus, thus generating a saturated region carrying 25 molecular markers linked to the gene Lr19 within 10.2 ± 0.062 cM on either side of the locus. Two RAPD markers S265₅₁₂ and S253₇₃₇ which flanked the locus Lr19 were converted to sequence characterized amplified region markers SCS265₅₁₂ and SCS253₇₃₆, respectively. The marker SCS265₅₁₂ was linked with Lr19 in a coupling phase and the marker SCS253₇₃₆ was linked in a repulsion phase, which when used together mimicked one co-dominant marker capable of distinguishing the heterozygous resistant seedlings from the homozygous resistant. The molecular markers were validated on NILs mostly in Thatcher background isogenic for 44 different Lr genes belonging to both native and alien origin. The validation for polymorphism in common leaf rust susceptible cultivars also confirmed the utility of these tightly linked markers to the gene Lr19 in marker-assisted selection.     

Molecular Markers Detect Redundancy and Miss-identity in Genetic Stocks with Alien Leaf Rust Resistance Genes Lr32 and Lr28 in Bread Wheat

Ten elite near-isogenic line (NIL) pairs of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L em Thell) each carrying one of the two alien leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes Lr32 and Lr28, derived from Triticum tauschii and Triticum speltoides, respectively were tested for disease phenotype in controlled conditions. The disease phenotype of the NIL pair detected distinction between the Lr32 donor parent and its derivatives in ten cultivar backgrounds documented as carrying the gene Lr32. The RAPD and SCAR molecular markers identified earlier as linked to Lr32 amplified the critical marker bands identically in eight of the ten NIL pairs as well as the Lr28 donor parent. The critical bands were not amplified in the Lr32 donor parent. A Triticum speltoides specific microsatellite null allele marker located on chromosome 4AL, the genomic region associated with Lr28, expressed in an identical polymorphism as the RAPD and SCAR markers. The PCR product sequenced from a NIL pair revealed 100% homology. It is confirmed that eight of the ten elite Lr32 lines carry the gene Lr28. Molecular marker tools need to be employed to eliminate such miss-identities and reduce redundancy in Indian elite germplasm stocks of wheat possessing the alien Lr genes.     

Microsatellite mapping of adult-plant leaf rust resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr22a</Emphasis> in wheat

This study was conducted to identify microsatellite markers (SSR) linked to the adult-plant leaf rust resistance gene Lr22a and examine their cross-applicability for marker-assisted selection in different genetic backgrounds. Lr22a was previously introgressed from Aegilops tauschii Coss. to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and located to chromosome 2DS. Comparing SSR alleles from the donor of Lr22a to two backcross lines and their recurrent parents showed that between two and five SSR markers were co-introgressed with Lr22a and the size range of the Ae. tauschii introgression was 9-20 cM. An F(2) population from the cross of 98B34-T4B x 98B26-N1C01 confirmed linkage between the introgressed markers and Lr22a on chromosome 2DS. The closest marker, GWM296, was 2.9 cM from Lr22a. One hundred and eighteen cultivars and breeding lines of different geographical origins were tested with GWM296. In total 14 alleles were amplified, however, only those lines predicted or known to carry Lr22a had the unique Ae. tauschii allele at GWM296 with fragments of 121 and 131 bp. Thus, GWM296 is useful for selecting Lr22a in diverse genetic backgrounds. Genotypes carrying Lr22a showed strong resistance to leaf rust in the field from 2002 to 2006. Lr22a is an ideal candidate to be included in a stack of leaf rust resistance genes because of its strong adult-plant resistance, low frequency of commercial deployment, and the availability of a unique marker.     

An interchromosomal reciprocal translocation in wheat involving leaf rust resistance gene Lr34.

'Thatcher' backcross lines RL6058 and RL6077 have adult-plant leaf rust resistance and were believed to have Lr34. However, genetic analysis revealed that the genes in the two lines were independent of each other. Previous work demonstrated that Lr34 is located on chromosome 7D. The leaf rust resistance gene in RL6058 must be on chromosome 7DS because no recombinants were observed between it and gene Lr29, known to be on chromosome 7DS. It was also linked with Rc3 (30.25 +/- 2.88%), a gene for purple coleoptile on chromosome 7DS. It was independent of Lr19 and NS1 (nonsuppressor mutant), which are located on 7DL. The leaf rust resistance gene in RL6077 was independent of genes Lr19 and Lr29. The presence of quadrivalents in pollen mother cells of the RL6058/RL6077 hybrid indicates that the Lr34 gene in RL6077 may have been translocated onto another chromosome. Lr34 from RL6058 and RL6077 may have been combined in four F3 lines derived from their intercross.