Inheritance of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend) resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) against pathotype 468119 from the Indian sub-continent

Abstract

Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend) is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) world wide. The disease is more destructive in temperate and cooler regions and it can cause severe damage resulting into poor tillering and shriveled grain [1]. Till 1994-95, 1BL/1 RS translocation carrying Yr9/Lr26/Sr31/PmB gene complex provided protection against the losses due to yellow rust in Indian subcontinent. The evolution of new pathotype 46S119 which is virulent on the gene Yr9 has resulted in susceptibility of large number of wheats to stripe rust [2]. During last three years approximately 600 lines were screened under All India Co-ordinated Wheat Improvement Programme and only two 'Attila' lines PBW 343 and PBW 373 showed resistance against this race. As resistance in the cultivars is neutralized with the evolution of new races, breeding for resistance using diverse sources is the most effective strategy to prolong the life of newly evolved varieties. The present study was therefore, planned to examine the inheritance of stripe rust resistance against pathotype 46S119 in wheat genotype PBW 343, newly registered resistant source FLW 3 [3] and two more identified resistant sources WBM 1587 and WBM 1591.