Spectrum of resistance conferred by ML-O powdery mildew resistance genes in barley

Summary Ten barley mutants and five Ethiopian barley lines representing 11 independently arisen powdery mildew resistance genes in the ml-o locus were tested at the seedling stage to cultures of the powdery mildew fungus from Europe, Israel, USA. Canada, and Japan. They were resistant with infection type 0/(4) in all tests. They were also resistant to field populations of the pathogen when scored in disease nurseries at more than 78 locations in 29 countries in Europe, the Near East, North and South America. New Zealand, and Japan. This indicates that the 11 genes confer the same, world-wide spectrum of powdery mildew resistance. They have no effect on several other barley diseases such as stripe rust and leaf rust.Part of the research reported here was carried out under IAEA Research Agreement No 1043 and Research Contract No 139-74-1 BIO DK with the European Atomic Energy Community.