Abstract only

Spring wheat is a major crop in Russian Federation and in Western Siberia in particular. It occupies more than 5 mln ha and provides grain for the idustrial cities of the region. Sceintific breeding was estblished in 1920s and 1930s in several key research institutes in the cities of Kurgan, Omsk, Novosibirsk and Barnaul. The research and breeding programs in Omsk (Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture and Omsk State Agricultural University) were especially successful in developing varieties which were adapted not only to Western Siberia but also to Northern Kazkahstan and European part of Russia. However, almost all the varieties developed in the 1980s and early 1990s were susceptible, to leaf rust. The importance of the pathogene increased in 2000s when higher precipitations, caused significan annual yield losses. Utilization, the diverse gene pool in the crosses resulted in the development of resistant germplasm whcih also combined good adaptation to local conditions and excellent grain quality. The varieties Tertsiya, Sonata, Kvinta, Duet demonstrated good resistance. It appears that the reistance is moct likley controlled by unidentified major genes. The Stem Rust is also present in the region with the latest significant occurence in summer 2008. This and the potential threat of Ug99 resulted in establishment of a wide collection of spring wheat germpalsm both from Western Siberia and from outside of the region for screening both in Omsk and in Kenya in 2009. The preliminary data suggests that there are several genotypes combining resistance to local population of Stem Rust with resistance in Kenya. These genotypes have been used in the corssing porgram. The methodology of breeding for rust resistance is discussed.

Global Wheat Program

English

INT1787

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection