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Genetic analysis of resistance in some varieties of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) to three races of yellow rust (Pucoinia striiformis)*

Sudhir KOCHHAR, K.S. GILL and G.S. NANDA

Department of Plant Breeding, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, India

In breeding programmes aimed at incorporating yellow rust resistance in wheat, genetic stocks are used that show resistance in the adult plant stage over a number of locations and seasons. In these stocks, Iittle genetic information on Yr-genes is available even though information of this type is very essential to ensure genetic diversity in the programmes. The purpose of this study was to determine the inheritance of resistance to yellow rust in bread wheat.

Material and Methods

Seven bread wheat vairieties, viz. CPAN 1360. CPAN 1444, Sonalike, HD 2009, Tanori 71, Tobari 66 and Kalyansona with undetermined Yr-genes, five varieties, viz. Bon Fermier (yr3a), Opal (yr4b), Lee (yr7), Compair (yr8) and Nudif TP 250 (Yr1+Yr6) and Agra Local, the universal susceptible variety, comprised the material for the present study. Seedling reactions were recorded on parental lines F1 hybrid and F2 progeny of several crosses. The details of the setting up of the laboratory and the recording of the observations are already on record (KOCHHAR, GILL & NANDA 1982).

Results and Discussion

The varieties CPAN 1444, Sonalika and Tobari 66 probably possess Yr3a as no segregation was observed in their crosses with tester line Bon Fermier against any of the three races studied. Varieties HD 2009 and Tanori 71 may also be presumed to carry this gene as indicated by no segregation in F2 of their crosses with Bon Fermier (Yr3a) against two of the three races. A 63:1 ratio was observed for HD 2009 x Bon Fermier against race 31 and for Tonori 71 x Bon Fermier against race 38A. These varieties are thus suggested to have other loci for resistance against the respective races. It is rather unusual that susceptible seedlings should have been scored even when both the parents have been postulated to carry Yr3a. It may be due to some unknown inhibitory genes operating selectively, or Yr3a may be a complex locus, or it may have been altered in its reaction due to the residual genetic background. Similar results have been reported on wheat (LUPTON & MACER 1962; JAIN & GANDHI 1978). On a similar assumption varieties CPAN 1444, Sonalika, HD 2009 and Tonari 66 may be postulated to carry Yr4b which determined the resistance in the crosses of these lines with the tester line Opal against one or more races. However, the parentage of these varieties did not indicate any common parents which could be postulated to have contributed Yr4b. A segregation for two loci was observed in the cross CPAN 1360 x Opal against race 38A indicating that two other loci operated in determining the resistance in the cross against this race.



* A part of the Ph. D. Thesis of the Senior Author submitted to the Punjab Agricultural University.

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