stem rust

Stem rust resistance in wheat cultivars with Sr31 has been effective and durable worldwide for more than 30 years. Isolates of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici with virulence to Sr31 were detected in Uganda in 1999

Wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) race TTKSK (Ug99), with virulence to the majority of the world's wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars, has spread from Uganda throughout eastern Africa, Yemen, and Iran. The identification and spread of variants of race TTKSK with virulence to additional stem rust resistance genes has reminded breeders and pathologists of the danger of deploying major resistance genes alone. In order to protect wheat from this rapidly spreading and adapting pathogen, multiple resistance genes are needed, preferably from improved germplasm. Preliminary screening of over 700 spring wheat breeding lines and cultivars developed at least 20 years ago identified 88 accessions with field resistance to Ug99. We included these resistant accessions in the stem rust screening nursery in Njoro, Kenya for two additional seasons. The accessions were also screened with a bulk of North American isolates of P. graminis f. sp. tritici in the field in St. Paul, MN. In order to further characterize the resistance in these accessions, we obtained seedling phenotypes for 10 races of P. graminis f. sp. tritici, including two races from the race TTKSK complex. This phenotyping led to the identification of accessions with either adult-plant or all-stage resistance to race TTKSK, and often North American races of P. graminis f. sp. tritici as well. These Ug99 resistant accessions can be obtained by breeders and introgressed into current breeding germplasm.

Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, the causative agent of stem rust in wheat, is known for its high virulence variability and ability to evolve new virulence to resistance genes. Thus, pyramiding of several resistance genes in a single line is the best strategy for a sustainable control of wheat stem rust. Sr13 is one of the few resistance genes that are effective against wide ranging P. graminis f. sp. tritici races, including the pestilent race Ug99. Its effectiveness to Ug99 makes it a valuable source for resistance to stem rust. Molecular markers play a pivotal role in the genetic characterization of the new sources of resistance as well as in stacking two or more resistance genes in a single line. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop molecular markers for Sr13 facilitating efficient pyramiding of Sr genes. Based on the 158 F(2) individuals derived from a cross of Khapstein/9*LMPG x Morocco and SSR analyses, the Sr13 locus was mapped on chromosome 6A of wheat, and a genetic map comprising about 90 cM was constructed with the closest marker barc37 being located 4.0 cM distally of Sr13. Of the nine mapped markers, barc37 amplified an allele specific for the presence of Sr13 as shown by testing different cultivars and breeding lines. These newly developed markers will increase the efficiency of incorporating Sr13 into cultivars that are widely adopted, but susceptible to hazardous Ug99 and/or assist for the development of new elite lines that are resistant to Ug99.

The stem rust resistance gene Sr2 has provided broad-spectrum protection against stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici) since its wide spread deployment in wheat from the 1940s. Because Sr2 confers partial resistance which is difficult to select under field conditions, a DNA marker is desirable that accurately predicts Sr2 in diverse wheat germplasm. Using DNA sequence derived from the vicinity of the Sr2 locus, we developed a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker that is associated with the presence or absence of the gene in 115 of 122 (95%) diverse wheat lines. The marker genotype predicted the absence of the gene in 100% of lines which were considered to lack Sr2. Discrepancies were observed in lines that were predicted to carry Sr2 but failed to show the CAPS marker. Given the high level of accuracy observed, the marker provides breeders with a selection tool for one of the most important disease resistance genes of wheat.