Plant Protection (Scientific Journal of Agriculture)

Plant Protection (Scientific Journal of Agriculture)

Resistance to stripe and stem rusts in Iranian cold-region wheat genotypes

Document Type : Research paper-English

Authors
1 Crop and Horticultural Science Research Department, Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Ardabil, Iran
2 Department of Cereal Research, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
The limited availability of durable genetic resistance in wheat cultivates remains a major challenge contributing to recurring epidemics of stripe (yellow) and stem (black) rust, which threaten global wheat yields. This study ascertained Iranian wheat germplasm, specifically genotypes adapted to cold regions as potential new sources of resistance at both seedling and adult growth stages. Over two successive crop years (2018-2020), 36 genotypes and susceptible checks were screened under field conditions at the Ardabil Agricultural Research Station in Iran against native pathogen populations. In the adult plants, slow-rusting resistance was assessed based on coefficient of infection (CI), final disease severity (FRS), and the relative area under the disease progress curve (rAUDPC). Seedling assays were performed under controlled conditions with two distinct stripe rust pathotypes (174E150A+,Yr27 and 14E158A+,Yr27) and four stem rust pathotypes (TTTTF, PTRTF, TKTTF, TTKTK). According to the results, 30 genotypes indicated high, three moderate, and two low levels of slow-rusting resistance to stripe rust, while only two genotypes displayed high resistance to stem rust, nine moderate, and the remainder low. Several genotypes—including C-96-2, C-96-9, C-96-7, C-96-10, C-96-13, C-96-16, C-97-9, C-97-12, C-97-16, C-97-18, and C-97-19— demonstrated promising moderate-to-high resistance to both diseases. Genotypes susceptible at the seedling stage but moderate resistance with low severity under field conditions may carry combinations of slow-rusting genes. These resistant genotypes provide valuable genetic resources for breeding programs aiming at durable resistance.
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