Peer review

Growing resistant varieties is the most effective and economical method for controlling rust of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust, caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss. and P. striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici, respectively, was investigated in 148 F5 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between 'Avocet' and 'New Pusa 876' (NP876). The parents and population were phenotyped for resistance in field trials for 3 and 2 yr for leaf rust and stripe rust, respectively, and genotyped with gene-linked molecular markers. The segregation analyses indicated that the adult plant resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust was conferred by five and four additive effect genes, respectively. Among them, the slow-rusting adult plant resistance gene Lr46/Yr29 reduced 14 and 16% of mean leaf rust and stripe rust severities, respectively, whereas a severity reduction of 26% occurred due to Lr67/Yr46 for both rusts. Both resistance genes were contributed by NP876. An additive effect between leaf rust resistance genes Lr46 and Lr67 was detected, with a reduction up to 11% when they were present together. The effect of combining Yr29 and Yr46 was additive but not significant, with a mean reduction of 5% in severity. New Pusa 876 can be used as a multiple rust resistance source to breed wheat varieties that may contribute towards durable resistance.

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