Breeding for mature-plant resistance to yellow rust in wheat

In recent years several varieties of wheat, such as Rothwell Perdix and Maris Envoy, have shown good resistance to yellow rust when first produced, but because their resistance was determined by simply inherited major genes, they have later been severely attacked by newly arising physiologic races of the pathogen. Other varieties, such as Little Joss, Atle and Maris Widgeon, though slightly attacked by several races, have never suffered severe damage even when exposed to high levels of inoculum. The inheritance of this non-race-specific type of resistance was studied in a cross between Little Joss and a susceptible but shorter-strawed variety, Nord Desprez. Resistance appeared to be under complex control. It was found possible to select short-strawed resistant plants, using simple techniques in the field.