Identification of powdery mildew and leaf rust resistance genes in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Wheat varieties from the Caucasus, Central and Inner Asia

225 wheat varieties from Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia were analysed for their resistance to powdery mildew and leaf rust diseases. A set of 11 different Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici isolates was used to test for powdery mildew resistance and a set of 10 different Puccinia triticina isolates for leaf rust. 115 cultivars/lines were susceptible to powdery mildew and 32 cultivars/lines showed an intermediate resistance response. 21 cultivars/lines revealed the response pattern of individual resistance genes Pm1, Pm2, Pm3, pm5, Pm6, Pm8, Pm9, Pm17 and Pm22, respectively, therefrom three line showed a combination of two resistance genes and two varieties a combination of three genes. 50 cultivars/lines showed resistance to some specific isolates but an assignment to known resistance genes or gene combinations was not possible, whereas seven lines were completely resistant to all used isolates. The leaf rust test showed that 83 cultivars/lines were susceptible and 11 lines revealed intermediate resistance response. 62 cultivars/lines could be assumed to possess major resistance genes Lr1, Lr3, Lr10, Lr23 and Lr26, respectively, therefrom seven cultivars possessed a combination of two resistance genes. Lr3 was the most widespread resistance gene, occurring in 42 cultivars/lines. 13 lines were completely resistant to all used isolates, however, the response patterns of 56 cultivars/lines did not match to any known gene or gene combination. In 13 varieties the T1BL·1RS wheat-rye translocation could be identified, in five cultivars resistance gene Pm8 was suppressed.