Inheritance of Alternaria leaf blight resistance in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Abstract

Leaf blight incited by Alternaria triticina is a major biotic constraint to wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cultivation particularly in north-eastern plain zones of India. For identifying the number and nature of resistance conferring genes to leaf blight, three resistant Leeds, Wakooma and Hercules and five susceptible cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). HD 4502, DWL 5023, Raj 1555, HD 4530 and Meghdoot were crossed in an 8 x 8 half diallel fashion. Susceptibility of HD 4502, DWL 5023, Raj 1555 and HD 4530 was found to be controlled by a dominant gene and that of Meghdoot by two dominant complementary genes. The resistant parents carry recessive alleles of the genes present in susceptible cultivars. All the res-genes in the resistant parents are identical in nature.