The inheritance of stem rust and leaf rust resistance in some Ethiopian wheat collections

Summary Common and durum wheat populations obtained from Sweden and originally collected in Ethiopia were screened for resistance to steum rust and leaf rust. Resistant selections of common wheat were crossed and backcrossed with either stem rust susceptible RL6071, or leaf rust susceptible Thatcher. Genetic studies, based largely on tests of backcross F₂ families, showed that four of the selections had in common a recessive gene SrA. Plants with this gene were resistant (1⁺ infection type) to all stem rust races tested. This gene was neither Sr26 nor Sr29. The resistance of other selections, based on tests with an array of rust isolates, was due to various combinations of Sr6, 8a, 9a, 9d, 9c, 11, 13, 30, and 36. One of the selections had linked genes, Lr19/Sr25. Another selection had a dominant gene for resistance (;1 infection type) to all the races of leaf rust. With the possible exception of this gene for leaf rust resistance and SrA, no obviously new resistance was found.     

A test of supposed mutants for stem rust resistance in wheat

Summary Eight stem rust (Puccinia graminis tritici Eriks. and Henn.) resistant lines (designated TICENA lines) that had been selected by Veiga et al. (1981) following gamma radiation of BH-1146 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied. Six of the lines were resistant to race 15B-1 of stem rust and susceptible to race 56, and proved to carry the gene Sr7a. TICENA 4 carries two unidentified genes, each giving resistance to one of the two races. TICENA 10 carries Sr6, Sr7a and an unidentified gene giving resistance to race 56 but not 15B-1. The results raise doubts about the supposed origin of the lines as mutants.     

Agronomic and quality characters of near-isogenic lines of wheat carrying genes for stem rust resistance

Summary Two sets of near-isogenic lines of wheat carrying single genes for stem rust resistance were grown in yield tests to determine whether the resistance genes were deleterious. One set was based on the cultivar Marquis and the second set on a susceptible, day-length insensitive line, LMPG. The results indicated that the effects of resistance genes vary with different genes and different environments. However, there appeared to be a tendency for resistance genes to reduce yield. In most cases the reductions were too small to be of much concern to wheat breeders.     

Genetic and environmental variability in wheat characteristics reported to be involved in morphological resistance to wheat stem rust

Summary Four morphological characteristics of wheat peduncles were evaluated for genetic and environmental variability. The thickness of the epidermis and the amount and distribution of chlorenchyma tissue in the peduncle were measured. The genetic variability was estimated to be large, whereas the environmental variability was small. It was also concluded that cultivars could be screened for morphological characteristics of the peduncle that contributed to non-specific resistance to stem rust with a minimum sample size of about 10 plants per replication from a single location.Paper No 9328, Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. University of Minnesota. St. Paul. MN 55108.     

An analysis of genes for resistance against Indian stem rust races in two bread wheat cultivars

Summary The genetic constitution of two bread wheat accessions from the International Spring Wheat Rust Nurseries (E 5883 and E 6032) has been studied for reaction to four Indian races of stem rust. Analysis of E 5883 has revealed that for each of the races 15C, 21 and 40 a single dominant gene operates for resistance. The dominant gene against race 15C was identified as Sr6. The dominant genes for resistance against races 21 and 40 were found to be different from the genes described so far. Resistance against race 122 is controlled by a single recessive gene producing characteristically a 2 type of reaction. This gene was identified as Sr8.The resistance of E 6032 against each of the races 15C, 21 and 40 is controlled by two genes, one dominant and one recessive, which act independently. Dominant genes effective against 15C, 21 and 40 were conclusively identified as Sr6, Sr5 and Sr9b, respectively. From the correlated behaviour against races 15C and 40 as well as from the phenotypes of the resistance reactions rhe same recessive gene, undescribed so far, operates against the two races. The second recessive gene operating against race 21 was also observed to be different from those so far designated. E 6032 was, however, found to be susceptible to races 122.The presence of Sr6 both in E 5883 and E 6032 against race 15C was further confirmed through F₂ and F₃ segregation data.     

Inheritance of wheat stem rust resistance in triticale

Genetic studies were conducted on nine triticale cultivars and lines lo determine the presence and identity of stem rust resistance genes. The lines were intercrossed and their F₂ and F₃ generations were tested with selected pathotypes of Puccinia graminis tritici. Segregation in seedling tesis showed the presence of two new genes SrLal and SrLa2 in ‘Lasko’, SrBj anil SrJ in ‘Bejon’. SrVen in ‘Currency’, SrBj in ‘Abacus’ and ‘RM4’ and SrNin in ‘Tahara’, ‘Maidan’ and ‘Madonna’ SrBj, SrNin, SrLal and SrLa2 were genetically independent and each conferred resistance to the currently important Australian P. graminis tritici pt 34-2.12.13, whereas SrJ and SrVen conferred moderately susceptible reactions to the same pathotype. SrVen segregated independently of SrBj, but the relationship of SrVen with the other genes was noi determined. The typical low infection types conferred by SrBj and SrJ were best expressed at temperatures above 21 C, Prolamine separations nsinj; sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel elcclrophoresis confirmed that SiNin and SrBj were located in chromosome 2R. The gene SrLal behaved as a third allele at or near the Sr27, SrSatu locus in chromosome 3R, The present work demonstrated that chromosomes 2R and 3R are important bearers of genes Tor stem rust resistance in hexaploid iriticale.     

Chromosomal location in triticale of leaf rust resistance genes introduced from Triticum monococcum

This study was undertaken to understand the inheritance of leaf rust resistance in line TM16 of Triticum monococcum ssp. monococcum var. macedonicum Papag. which is the source of resistance transferred into hexaploid triticale lines (Tcl/Tm). Thirty-two secondary tetraploid genotypes were analysed cytologicaly to identify substitutions of A^m-genome chromosomes by their homoeologous A-genome chromosomes from a leaf rust susceptible hexaploid triticale accession. Plants with one (or more) substituted chromosomes were inoculated with leaf rust at two growth stages. The disease phenotypes of these lines indicated that a major resistance gene was located on the short arm of T. monococcum chromosome 2A^m. An additional gene on chromosome 6A^m had complementary effects in enhancing the effects of the gene on chromosome 2A^m.     

Analysis of durable resistance to stem rust in barley

Summary Since the mid-1940's, barley cultivars grown in the northern Great Plains of the USA and Canada have been resistant to stem rust caused byPuccinia graminis f. sp.tritici. This durable resistance is largely conferred by a single gene,Rpg1, derived from a single plant selection of the cultivar Wisconsin 37 and an unimproved Swiss cultivar. At the seedling stage, barley genotypes withRpg1 generally exhibit low mesothetic reactions at 16–20° C and slightly higher mesothetic reactions at 24–28° C to many stem rust pathotypes. This resistance is manifested by a low level of rust infection and mostly incompatible type uredia on adult plants.Rpg1 reacts in a pathotype-specific manner since some genotypes ofP. g. f. sp.tritici are virulent on cultivars carrying this gene in the field. Several factors may have contributed to the longevity of stem rust resistance in barley, a) since barley is planted early and matures early, it can sometimes escape damage from stem rust inoculum carried from the south; b) one or more minor genes may augment the level of resistance already provided byRpg1; c) the cultivation of resistant wheat cultivars and eradication of barberry have reduced the effective population size and number of potential new pathotypes ofP. g. f. sp.tritici, respectively; and d) virulent pathotypes ofP. g. f. sp.tritici andP. g. f. sp.secalis have not become established. This situation changed in 1989 when a virulent pathotype (Pgt-QCC) ofP. g. f. sp.tritici became widely distributed over the Great Plains. However,Rpg1 may still confer some degree of resistance to pathotype QCC because stem rust severities have been low to moderate and yield losses light on barley cultivars carrying the gene during the last four seasons (1989–1992). Several sources of incomplete resistance to pathotype QCC have been identified in barley. To facilitate the transfer of resistance genes from these sources into advanced breeding lines, molecular marker assisted selection is being employed.     

Monosomic analyses of stripe rust and leaf rust resistance genes in winter wheat varieties Lüquyu and Yantar

Summary A set of 21 monosomics of Novosadska Rana-1 was used to locate the rust resistance genes of Lüqiyu, a stripe rust resistant line developed by BAU and Yantar, a leaf rust resistant wheat introduced from Bulgaria. The resistance of the former to p. striiformis race C25 was conditioned by a dominant gene located on chromosome 2B, whereas that of the latter to P. recondita race CL3 was controlled by two complementary dominant genes located on chromosomes 5A and 1D, respectively. The relationship of the stripe rust resistance gene in Lüqiyu to Yr5, Yr7 or Yr _Suwon' all located on chromosome 2B is unknown. The two complementary leaf rust resistance factors in Yantar appear to be new.     

Genetics of resistance to Puccinia graminis tritici and Puccinia recondita tritici in Kenya Plume wheat

Summary Seven genes, viz. Sr5, Sr6, Sr7a, Sr8a, Sr9b, Sr12 and Sr17 were associated with seedling resistance to Puccinia graminis tritici in Kenya Plume wheat. The predominant field cultures were avirulent on seedlings with Sr7a, but possessed virulence for the other six genes. However, Sr7a did not confer adult-plant resistance when present on its own. Adult-plant resistance was attributed to Sr2 and possibly also to the interaction of Sr7a and Sr12.Two genes, Lr13 and Lr14a, were identified in seedling tests with various cultures of Puccinia recondita tritici. Lr13 conferred adult-plant resistance to the predominant field strains. Genetic recombination between Lr13 and Sr9b was estimated at 17.6±3.1%.     

Variation of characters in near-isogenic lines of wheat with added genes for leaf rust resistance

Summary Using the cultivar Arina as the recurrent parent, six backcrosses were made with two donor lines carrying the leaf rust resistance genes Lr1 and Lr9, respectively. Selection for leaf rust resistance occurred at the seedling stage in the greenhouse; the first plants transferred to the field were BC₆F₄s. Frequency distribution of the 332 Lr1/7 × Arina and the 335 Lr9/7 × Arina lines showed continuous variation for yellow rust resistance and heading date in these leaf rust near-isogenic lines (NILs). Similar results were also obtained for plant height, for resistance to powdery mildew and glume blotch, as well as for baking quality characters in another set of more advanced NILs. The available information on the behaviour of one of the parents of cultivar Arina led to the conclusion that the expressed yellow rust resistance is quantitative and might possibly be durable.     

Genes for wheat stem rust resistance postulated in German cultivars and their efficacy in seedling and adult‐plant field tests

Stem rust of wheat (caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici) gained high international attention in the last two decades, but does not occur regularly in Germany. Motivated by a regional epidemic in 2013, we analysed 15 spring and 82 winter wheat cultivars registered in Germany for their resistance to stem rust at the seedling stage and tested 79 of these winter wheat cultivars at the adult‐plant stage. A total of five seedling stem rust resistance genes were postulated: Sr38 occurred most frequently (n = 29), followed by Sr31 (n = 11) and Sr24 (n = 8). Sr7a and Sr8a occurred only in two spring wheat genotypes each. Four cultivars had effective seedling resistance to all races evaluated that could only be explained by postulating additional resistance genes (‘Hyland’, ‘Pilgrim PZO’, ‘Tybalt’) or unidentified gene(s) (‘Memory’). The three winter wheat cultivars (‘Hyland’ ‘Memory’ and ‘Pilgrim PZO’) were also highly resistant at the adult‐plant stage; ‘Tybalt’ was not tested. Resistance genes Sr24 and Sr31 highly protected winter wheat cultivars from stem rust at the adult‐plant stage in the field. Disease responses of cultivars carrying Sr38 varied. Mean field stem rust severity of cultivars without postulated seedling resistance genes ranged from 2.71% to 41.51%, nine of which were significantly less diseased than the most susceptible cultivar. This suggests adult‐plant resistance to stem rust may be present in German wheat cultivars.     

Leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes transferred to common wheat from Triticum dicoccoides

Linked leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes introduced from Triticum dicoccoides protected common wheat seedlings against a range of pathotypes of the respective pathogens. The genes were chromosomally mapped using monosomic and telosomic analyses, C-banding and RFLPs. The data indicated that an introgressed region is located on wheat chromosome arm 6BS. The introgressed region did not pair with the ‘Chinese Spring’ 6BS arm during meiosis possibly as a result of reduced homology, but appeared to pair with 6BS of W84-17 (57% of pollen mother cells) and ‘Avocet S’. The introgressed region had a very strong preferential pollen transmission (0.96–0.98) whereas its transmission through egg cells (0.41–0.66) varied with the genetic background of the heterozygote. Homozygous resistant plants had a normal phenotype, were fertile and produced plump seeds. Symbols Lr53 and Yr35 are proposed to designate the respective genes.     

Monosomic analysis of stem rust resistance in the wheat cultivar Almus

Summary Monosomic analysis of resistance to stem rust, race 11 (isolate G 425) was carried out in the cultivar Almus (GDR) possessing a 1B/1R translocation. F₂ progenies of monosomic and disomic F₁ plants of Almus crossed with 21 monosomic lines of Chinese Spring were tested. Two lines (1B and 6B) differed significantly from the disomic segregation ratio by a higher number of resistant plants and two other lines (1D and 6A) by a lower number of resistant plants. The results fitted a hypothesis comprising the interaction of two genes for resistance and two inhibitors.     

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.     

Characterisation and origin of rust and powdery mildew resistance genes in VPM1 wheat

Summary The expression of rust resistances conferred by closely linked genes derived from VPM1 varied with environmental conditions and with genetic backgrounds. Under low light and low temperature conditions seedlings carrying Yr17 showed susceptible responses. Stem rust and leaf rust resistance genes Sr38 and Lr37 tended to confer more resistance at 17±2° C than at normal temperatures above > 20° C. These studies supported the hypothesis that Yr17, Lr37 and Sr38 were derived from Aegilops ventricosa, whereas Pm4b was probably derived from T. persicum. Studies on certain addition lines and parental stocks indicated that wheat cytoplasm may enhance the expression of Sr38.     

Effectiveness of genes for leaf rust resistance in international wheat rust nurseries, 1970–1975

Monogenic lines resistant to leaf rust of spring and winter wheats were grown in the world wheat-producing areas from 1970 through 1975. Lines containing the alleles Lr9 (Wi), Lr9 (Tc), and Lr19 (Tc) were more resistant to the leaf rust pathogen than those containing Lr1 (Tc), –1 (Wi), –1,3 (Wi), –2A (Tc), –2A (Wi), –2D (Tc), –3 (Tc), –3 (Wi), –10 (Tc), –16 (Tc), –17 (Tc), –18 (Tc), or –2D (Pld). Monogenic line Lr1 (Wi) possibly has more than one gene for resistance and resistance properties similar to cultivars with field resistance. A computer data base was created to produce the information used in this paper.Formerly Research Agronomist, Field Crops Laboratory, now Supervisoty Computer Specialist, DSAD; and Research Plant Pathologist, Germplasm Resources Laboratory, ARS, BARC-West, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.     

Genetics of resistance in the wheat cultivar chhoti lerma against stem rust race 122

Summary Genetics of rust resistance against stem rust race 122 in Chhoti Lerma was studied both by conventional and aneuploid analysis. Observations on F₁, F₂ and F₂ backcross progenies revealed the operation of two recessive genes, controlling resistance in Chhoti Lerma. Monosomic analysis confirmed the operation of two recessive genes conferring resistance to race 122 located on chromosomes 1D and 7D. A minor gene or modifier was also located on chromosome 1B. This was concluded from the fact that F₂ of mono's x Chhoti Lerma exhibited skewness in favour of resistant plants.     

Molecular and cytogenetic identification of new wheat-Dasypyrum breviaristatum additions conferring resistance to stem rust and powdery mildew

Two cytologically stable wheat-Dasypyrum breviarisatatum addition lines, Y93-1-6-6 and Y93-1-A6-4, were identified by integrated molecular and cytogenetic techniques. C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) showed that Y93-1-6-6 and Y93-1-A6-4 were different wheat-D. breviaristatum additions. A total of 51 markers (primer/enzyme combinations), including 6 PCR-based Landmark Unique Gene (PLUG) markers and 45 Sequence-Tagged-Site (STS) markers, were selected from 3,774 primer/enzyme combinations to further characterize these two additions. Marker haploytpes suggested that both D. breviaristatum chromosomes in Y93-1-6-6 and Y93-1-A6-4 were rearranged. Stem rust resistance screening indicated that both additions were highly resistant to race RKQQC, whereas only Y93-1-6-6 was resistant to race TTKSK (Ug99). Powdery mildew resistance screening showed that only Y93-1-6-6 was resistant. Pedigree analysis suggested that the stem rust and powdery mildew resistance of Y93-1-6-6 was derived from D. breviaristatum, indicating that the D. breviaristatum chromosomes in Y93-1-6-6 possess a new powdery mildew resistance gene(s), and new stem rust resistance gene(s). These two additions could be used as stem rust or powdery mildew resistance sources in wheat breeding programs.