Evaluation of seedling and adult plant resistance to leaf rust in European wheat cultivars

Summary A set of 105 European wheat cultivars, comprising 68 cultivars with known seedling resistance genes and 37 cultivars that had not been tested previously, was tested for resistance to selected Australian pathotypes of P. triticina in seedling greenhouse tests and adult plant field tests. Only 4% of the cultivars were susceptible at all growth stages. Twelve cultivars lacked detectable seedling resistance to leaf rust, and among the remaining cultivars, 10 designated genes were present either singly or in combination. Lr13 was the most frequently detected gene, present in 67 cultivars, followed by the rye-derived gene Lr26, present in 19 cultivars. Other genes present were Lr1, Lr3a, Lr3ka, Lr10, Lr14a, Lr17b, Lr20 and Lr37. There was evidence for unidentified seedling resistance in addition to known resistance genes in 11 cultivars. Field tests with known pathotypes of P. triticina demonstrated that 57% of the cultivars carried adult plant resistance (APR) to P. triticina. The genetic identity of the APR is largely unknown. Genetic studies on selected cultivars with unidentified seedling resistances as well as all of those identified to carry APR are required to determine the number and inheritance of the genes involved, to determine their relationships with previously designated rust resistance genes, and to assess their potential value in breeding for resistance to leaf rust.     

Inheritance of seedling and adult plant resistance to leaf rust of selected Australian spring and English winter wheat varieties

Genetic studies were conducted to gain an understanding of the inheritance of adult plant resistance (APR) to leaf rust in six common wheat varieties. The Australian varieties ‘Cranbrook’ and ‘Harrier’ each carry two genes for APR to leaf rust. These genes are genetically independent of the seedling resistance genes Lr23 and Lrl7b, carried by the respective varieties. Adult plant resistance in ‘Suneca’ was conferred by at least two genes, in addition to the seedling genes Lr1 and Lrli. It is likely that the APRs in ‘Cranbrook’, ‘Harrier’ and ‘Suneca’ are conferred by uncharacterized gene(s). Tests of allelism confirmed that seedling resistances in the varieties ‘Avocet R’, ‘Hereward’, ‘Moulin’ and ‘Pastiche’ are conferred by Lrli. Adult plant resistance in the variety ‘Hereward’ was inherited monogenically, whereas varieties ‘Moulin’ and ‘Pastiche’ each carried two dominant genes. On the basis of rust specificity and pedigree analysis, it would seem likely that the APR genes in ‘Hereward’, ‘Moulin’ and ‘Pastiche’ are also currently uncharacterized.     

Genes Lr48 and Lr49 for hypersensitive adult plant leaf rust resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The genetic bases of leaf rust resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) line CSP44, selected from the Australian cultivar Condor, and Indian cultivar VL404, were studied. The reaction patterns of CSP44 and VL404 against Indian races 12, 77, 77-1, 77-2, 77-3, 77-4, 77-5 and 108 were different from reaction patterns shown by near-isogenic lines with known adult plant resistance (APR) genes, viz. Lr12, Lr13, Lr22b and Lr34. Although the reaction patterns of CSP44 and VL404 were similar to the near-isogenic line Tc+Lr22a, tests of allelism indicated absence of Lr22a in both CSP44 and VL404. On the basis of genetic studies, their resistances in field tests against race 77-5, the most virulent race from the Indian sub-continent, were each ascribed to two genes. One of the two genes in each wheat was identified to be the non-hypersensitive APR gene Lr34. The second APR genes in CSP44 and VL404 gave hypersensitive reaction types and were recessive and dominant, respectively. The gene in CSP44 was designated Lr48and the gene in VL404, Lr49. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

‘CPAN 1842’: a new source of adult plant leaf rust resistance in bread wheat

There is worldwide interest in adult plant resistance (APR) because of greater durability of APR to the cereal rusts. Peruvian bread wheat genotype ‘CPAN (Coordinated Project Accession Number) 1842’ (LM 50–53) has shown leaf rust resistance in disease screening nurseries since its introduction in 1977. However, it is susceptible at the seedling stage to several Puccinia triticina (Pt) pathotypes including the widely prevalent 77‐5 (121R63‐1) that infects bread wheat. Inheritance studies showed that CPAN 1842 carried a dominant gene for APR to pathotype 77‐5, which was different from Lr12, Lr13, Lr22a, Lr34, Lr35, Lr37, Lr46, Lr48, Lr49 and Lr68, based on the tests of allelism; and from Lr67, based on genotyping with the closely linked SSR marker cfd71. This gene should also be different from Lr22b as the latter is totally ineffective against pathotype 77‐5. CPAN 1842 therefore appears to be a new promising source of leaf rust resistance. Also having resistance to stem rust and stripe rust, this line can contribute to breeding for multiple rust resistances in wheat.     

Novel gene for adult plant resistance to Puccinia recondita in the wheat cultivar'Arjun'

Inheritance of resistance in the wheat cultivar‘Arjun’(HD 2009) against leaf rust pathotype 77–1 revealed that its durable resistance is attributable to a novel dominant adult plant resistance (APR) gene. Lr13, another gene reported in the cultivar played no role. This new gene is established as different from Lr34, the only effective APR gene from Triticum aestivum known for durability.     

Resistance to leaf rust in cultivars of bread wheat and durum wheat grown in Spain

A set of bread wheat and durum wheat cultivars adapted to Spanish conditions was tested for resistance against leaf rust caused by different pathotypes of Puccinia triticina in field trials and in growth chamber studies. Lower levels of resistance were found in durum wheat than in bread wheat. The most frequent Lr genes found in bread wheat were Lr1, Lr10, Lr13, Lr20, Lr26 and Lr28. In durum wheat, additional resistance genes that differed from the known Lr genes were identified. The level of partial resistance to leaf rust was in general low, although significant levels were identified in some bread wheat and durum wheat cultivars.     

Molecular genetics of race non-specific rust resistance in wheat

Over 150 resistance genes that confer resistance to either leaf rust, stripe rust or stem rust have been catalogued in wheat or introgressed into wheat from related species. A few of these genes from the ‘slow-rusting’ adult plant resistance (APR) class confer partial resistance in a race non-specific manner to one or multiple rust diseases. The recent cloning of two of these genes, Lr34/Yr18, a dual APR for leaf rust and stripe rust, and Yr36, a stripe rust APR gene, showed that they differ from other classes of plant resistance genes. Currently, seven Lr34/Yr18 haplotypes have been identified from sequencing the encoding ATP Binding Cassette transporter gene from diverse wheat germplasm of which one haplotype is commonly associated with the resistance phenotype. The paucity of well characterised APR genes, particularly for stem rust, calls for a focused effort in developing critical genetic stocks to delineate quantitative trait loci, construct specific BAC libraries for targeted APR genes to facilitate robust marker development for breeding applications, and the eventual cloning of the encoding genes.     

Inheritance and QTL mapping of leaf rust resistance in the European winter wheat cultivar ‘Beaver’

Genetic studies were conducted on an European winter wheat cultivar, Beaver, to determine the mode of inheritance of leaf rust resistance at seedling and adult plant growth stages using a recombinant doubled haploid population, Beaver/Soissons. Greenhouse studies indicated the involvement of genes Lr13 and Lr26 in governing leaf rust resistance at seedling growth stages, whereas, adult plant resistance (APR) in the field with pathotypes carrying virulence individually for Lr13 and Lr26 showed trigenic inheritance for the population. Marker regression analysis of adult plant field data indicated the involvement of six significant QTLs (chromosomes 1B, 3B, 3D, 4B, 4D and 5A) in year 2005, four QTLs (1B, 3B, 4B and 5A) in 2006, and six QTLs (1A, 1B, 3B, 4A, 4B and 5A) in 2007 for reducing leaf rust severity. QTLs on chromosomes 1B, 4B and 5A were considered the most important because of their detection across years, whereas QTLs on chromosomes 1A, 3B, 3D and 4A were either inconsistent or non-significant and unexplained. Based on an association of closely linked markers with phenotypic data, putative single gene stocks were identified for each consistent QTL and crossing was initiated to develop populations segregating for each to permit fine mapping of the identified regions.     

Genetics of leaf rust resistance in three Americano landrace-derived wheat cultivars from Uruguay

A genetic analysis of the landrace‐derived wheat accessions Americano 25e, Americano 26n, and Americano 44d, from Uruguay was conducted to identify the leaf rust resistance genes present in these early wheat cultivars. The three cultivars were crossed with the leaf rust susceptible cultivar ‘Thatcher’ and approximately 80 backcross (BC1) F₂ families were derived for each cross. The BC1F₂ families and selected BC1F₄ lines were tested for seedling and adult plant leaf rust resistance with selected isolates of leaf rust, Puccinia triticina. The segregation and infection type data indicated that Americano 25e had seedling resistance genes Lr3, Lr16, an additional unidentified seedling gene, and one adult plant resistance gene that was neither Lr12 nor Lr13, and did not phenotypically resemble Lr34. Americano 26n was postulated to have genes Lr11, Lr12, Lr13, and Lr14a. Americano 44d appeared to have two possibly unique adult plant leaf rust resistance genes.     

Genetic basis of seedling-resistance to leaf rust in bread wheat 'Thatcher'

The bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’ is documented to carry the gene Lr22b for adult‐plant resistance to leaf rust. Seedling‐resistance to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in the bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’, the background parent of the near‐isogenic lines for leaf rust resistance genes in wheat, is rare and no published information could be found on its genetic basis. The F₂ and F₃ analysis of the cross ‘Agra Local’ (susceptible) × ‘Thatcher’ showed that an apparently incompletely dominant gene conditioned seedling‐resistance in ‘Thatcher’ to the three ‘Thatcher’‐avirulent Indian leaf rust pathotypes – 0R8, 0R8‐1 and 0R9. Test of allelism revealed that this gene (temporarily designated LrKr1) was derived from ‘Kanred’, one of the parents of ‘Thatcher’. Absence of any susceptible F₂ segregants in a ‘Thatcher’ × ‘Marquis’ cross confirmed that an additional gene (temporarily designated LrMq1) derived from ‘Marquis’, another parent of ‘Thatcher’, was effective against pathotype 0R9 alone. These two genes as well as a second gene in ‘Kanred’ (temporarily designated LrKr2), which was effective against all the three pathotypes, but has not been inherited by ‘Thatcher’, seem to be novel, undocumented leaf rust resistance genes.     

27个二倍体和10个四倍体小麦近缘种抗叶锈性鉴定

利用我国小麦叶锈菌5个优势致病类型的混合菌种,在田间对27个二倍体和10个四倍体小麦近缘种成株期抗病性进行了接种鉴定,发现3个粗山羊草、1个野生二粒小麦和3个硬粒小麦表现免疫,1个一粒小麦、9个粗山羊草和1个硬粒小麦表现抗病,说明目前这些材料所含抗叶锈病基因有很高的开发应用价值。选择18个有鉴别作用的小麦叶锈菌致病类型,在不同温度下进行苗期抗叶锈病基因推导,根据抗感反应模式,推定粗山羊草Y192含Lr40,Ae37和Y190含Lr41,硬粒小麦Altar 84、Doliu、Dr147和Volcani 447含Lr23和未知基因;Ae39、T96243和Y193等10个粗山羊草和野生二粒小麦不含苗期抗叶锈病基因。粗山羊草Ae39、T96243、Y193和野生二粒小麦在成株期表现免疫至抗病且严重度≤10%,说明具有成株期抗病性特点。     

The role of Lr34 in imparting durable resistance to wheat leaf rust through gene interaction

Summary The leaf rust responses of wheat lines carrying the complementary genes Lr27 and Lr31 and the same genes in a Chinese Spring background which contains Lr34, indicate that Lr34 interacts with the complementary genes to give enhanced levels of field resistance to leaf rust. Lr34, particularly in combination with other genes, is considered to be an important gene for imparting a high degree of durable resistance to leaf rust. Its similarity to Sr2, an adult plant gene for resistance to stem rust and its association with adult plant resistances to stem and stripe rusts are discussed.     

Identification and characterization of seedling and adult plant resistance to Puccinia hordei in Chinese barley germplasm

Leaf rust of barley, caused by Puccinia hordei, occurs in all barley‐growing regions of Australia causing significant yield losses under epidemic conditions. The development and use of resistant cultivars are the most economical and environmentally sustainable method to control leaf rust which in turn relies on ongoing efforts to identify and characterize new sources of resistance. The aim of this study was to postulate known genes and/or identify new sources of resistance to P. hordei. Fifty‐two genotypes were assessed at the seedling and adult plant growth stages. On the basis of multipathotype tests, 39 genotypes lacked detectable seedling resistance, and nine were postulated to carry the genes Rph2, Rph4, Rph12 and Rph19 singly. Four genotypes carried uncharacterized seedling resistance; however, the gene(s) present in each were ineffective to at least one of the pathotypes used. Field tests at the adult plant growth stage revealed the presence of adult plant resistance (APR) in 12 genotypes. Tests of allelism and marker analysis indicated that resistance genes present in these genotypes were independent of the APR gene Rph20.     

Enhanced leaf rust resistance in wheat conditioned by resistance gene pairs with Lr13

Summary Leaf rust resistance gene Lr13 is present in many North American hard red spring wheat cultivars that have shown durable resistance to leaf rust. Fifteen pair-wise combinations of Lr13 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 Lr13 had enhanced resistance relative to either parent to rust isolates that had intermediate avirulent infection types to the additional genes. In field tests, homozygous lines were more resistant than either parent if the additional leaf rust gene conditioned an effective level of resistance when present singly.     

Adult plant leaf rust resistance from 111 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Adult plant resistance against Indian leaf rust race 77 and five of its highly virulent variants have been identified from 111 bread wheat cultivars originating from 12 countries. The adult plant resistance of only 16 of these cultivars is due to hypersensitive seedling or adult plant resistance genes. All others expressed nonhypersensitive type of resistance characteristic of the genes Lr34 and Lr46.Forty five of the 111 cultivars showed tip necrosis on flag leaves, a trait linked to the gene Lr34. Therefore, the nonhypersensilive type of resistance of these 45 cultivars is attributed to Lr34. The nonhypersensitive resistance of the remaining cultivars is likely to be due to the gene(s) different than Lr34. The reaction pattern of these 111 cultivars to six races suggests the presence of at least six to seven new hypersensitive adult plant resistance genes and at least three new hypersensitive seedling resistance genes. The known genes Lr10, Lr23 and Lr26 were detected frequently but these genes did not contribute towards the adult plant resistance of any of the 111 cultivars. Based on the presence of new genes for hypersensitive and nonhypersensitive type of resistance, the 111 cultivars have been classified into 31 diverse resistance groups. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetics of stem rust resistance in the spring wheat cultivar Thatcher and the enhancement of stem rust resistance by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr34</Emphasis>

Three recombinant inbred line populations from the crosses RL6071/Thatcher, RL6071/RL6058 (Thatcher Lr34), and Thatcher/RL6058, were used to study the genetics of stem rust resistance in Thatcher and TcLr34. Segregation of stem rust response in each population was used to determine the number of genes conferring resistance, as well as the effect of the leaf rust resistance gene Lr34 on stem rust resistance. The relationship between resistance in seedling and adult plants was also examined, and an attempt was made to identify microsatellite markers linked to genes that were effective in adult plants. In field plot tests at least three additive resistance genes segregated in the RL6071/RL6058 population, whereas two resistance genes segregated in the RL6071/Thatcher population. The presence of the gene Lr34 permitted the expression of additional stem rust resistance in Thatcher-derived lines both at the seedling and adult plant stages. Seedling resistance to races TPMK and RKQQ was significantly associated with resistance in adult plants, whereas seedling resistance to races QCCD and QCCB may have made a minor contribution. The seedling resistance genes Sr16 and Sr12 may have contributed to resistance in adult plants. A molecular marker linked to resistance in adult plants was identified on chromosome 2BL.     

First report of leaf rust pathotypes virulent to highly effective Lr-genes transferred from Agropyron species to bread wheat

The gene pool of effective sources of leaf rust resistance used in the breeding of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) includes several species of the genus Agropyron. The genes deriving therefrom (Lr 19, 19d, 29, Agⁱ1, Agⁱ2, 38) are highly effective to pathotypes of Puccinia recondita Rob. ex Desm. In the Saratov and Orenbhurg districts of Russia, however, pathotypes virulent to these genes have been discovered. These pathotypes are virulent to Saratov-bred cultivars carrying Lr 19, to ‘Indis’ (Lr 19d) and RL 6097 (Lr 38). The distribution of virulence on the ‘Thatcher’ near-isogenic lines with different Lr genes shows that most of the Lr genes tested are susceptible to these new pathotypes of P. recondita, but the Lr genes Lr 9, 23, 24, 26 were exceptions. The inoculation of Mexican bread wheat cultivars, which carry widespread Lr gene combinations, by these pathotypes disclosed different infection types. Out of 10 Lr-gene combinations, four were highly effective; namely the combinations Lr 13 + 26, Lr 26 +?, Lr 23+26 and Lr 23+26+34.     

山西省小麦主栽品种抗叶锈病研究

选用14个具有不同毒性基因组合的叶锈菌系，推导分析了来自山西省6个育种单位和种子部门的24个重要小麦品种所携带的抗叶锈病基因状况。在供试的44个已知抗叶锈病基因(或基因组合)中，推导出了Lr1，Lr3，Lr13，Lr23，Lr26，Lr30等6个抗叶锈病基因，以单基因或基因组合形式分别分布在19个小麦品种中，其中Lr1，Lr3，Lr26是供试材料的主要已知抗叶锈病基因。成株期抗病性鉴定结果表明，在24个供试品种中，仅有晋麦62号和鲁麦14号两个品种表现出对叶锈病良好的抗性，晋麦31号、晋麦56号和晋麦61号3个品种表现为中抗至中感(杂合类型)，晋春9号、晋春13号、晋偃746—9等12个品种具有慢叶锈病特征。     

Leaf rust resistance in selected late maturity, common wheat cultivars from Uruguay

Leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina) is one of the most important diseases of wheat in Uruguay, and breeding for resistance to this disease is a priority for the INIA wheat program. Knowledge of the effective resistance genes present in the germplasm is relevant when selecting for effective and more durable resistance. The leaf rust resistance present in six adapted wheat cultivars that are parents of many advanced lines was studied. Races of P. triticina with different virulence combinations were used to determine which seedling resistance genes might be present in the six cultivars and/or derived lines. Genetic analysis of seedling and adult plant resistance (APR) was conducted on BC₁F₂ and F₃ generations from crosses of four cultivars with the susceptible cultivar Thatcher. The presence of APR genes Lr13 and Lr34 was confirmed with crosses of the four cultivars and Thatcher lines with these genes. A genetic marker associated with Lr34 was used to postulate the presence of this gene in all cultivars. The cultivars and resistance genes postulated to be present were: Estanzuela Calandria Lr3bg, Lr16 and Lr24; Estanzuela Federal Lr10; Estanzuela Halcón Lr10, Lr14a, and Lr16; INIA Tijereta and INIA Garza Lr16, Lr24 and Lr34; and INIA Torcaza Lr10 and Lr24. Only Lr16 and Lr34 remain effective to the predominant pathotypes. Additional ineffective seedling resistance that could not be identified was present in E. Federal, I. Tijereta and I. Torcaza. Unknown APR gene(s) could be present in E. Calandria and E. Federal.     

Evaluation of seedling and adult plant resistance to stem rust in European wheat cultivars

A total of 105 European wheat cultivars were assessed for seedling and adult plant resistance (APR) to stem rust using an array of Australian isolates of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici. Twenty-seven cultivars were susceptible at both seedling and adult plant growth stages. Twelve catalogued seedling stem rust resistance genes (Sr7b, Sr8a, Sr8b, Sr9b, Sr9g, Sr11, Sr15, Sr17, Sr29, Sr31, Sr36 and Sr38) were detected in the remaining cultivars, and 13 cultivars carried additional seedling resistance genes that could not be postulated with the isolates used. Low levels of APR to stem rust were found in the cultivars Artaban, Forno, Mec, Mercia, Pandas and Vlada. Although the genetic identity of this APR was not determined, it was clear that the only designated stem rust APR gene Sr2 was not present in any of the cultivars tested based on the absence of the linked traits seedling chlorosis and pseudo black chaff. One of these cultivars, Forno, is believed to carry the leaf rust APR gene Lr34, previously reported to be associated with improved resistance to stem rust. A detailed genetic characterisation of the APRs in these cultivars will be needed to understand their modes of inheritance and relationships with catalogued stem rust resistance genes. Such knowledge may help in developing cultivars with effective gene combinations that confer higher levels of protection.