Studies of the genetics of inheritance of stem rust resistance in bread wheat

Abstract

Pgt race TTKSK (Ug99) has a wide virulence range with respect to currently grown wheat cultivars worldwide. Aspects of migration, mutation, recombination and selection in the pathogen have led to previously deployed stem rust resistance genes being ineffective. Race TTKSK has further evolved to acquire virulence for resistance genes such as Sr24 (race Ug99 + Sr24) and Sr36 (Ug99 + Sr36). Five resistant wheat lines (KSL-2, KSL-3, KSL-5, KSL-12 and KSL-19) which were resistant in tests during 2008, 2009 and 2010 were used as parents in crosses with stem rust susceptible line CACUKE to develop genetic populations for determining the inheritance of resistance to stem rust. F3 populations were evaluated at KARI Njoro in the 2012 off season and 2012 to 2013 main season. The adult plant stem rust responses were scored using the modified Cobb’s scale. The F2:3 lines of population(s) exhibiting qualitative variation were grouped as homozygous resistant (HR), segregating (Seg) and homozygous susceptible (HS). Heavy disease pressure was present during the cropping seasons with the check CACUKE displaying 90% susceptibility. Chi square analysis revealed that the segregation data in the parent KSL-2 did not deviate significantly from the single gene model (1:2:1) suggesting that the resistance to stem rust is conditioned by a single dominant gene. The Chi square test also revealed that the stem rust resistance in the parents KSL-3, KSL-5, KSL-12 and KSL-19 was conditioned by two genes. The families from the KSL-2 and KSL-3 crosses also segregated for the presence of the pseudo black chaff implying that the Sr2 gene could be present in the background of these wheat parents. The superior transgressive segregants identified in these crosses will be used in breeding.

Keywords: Genetic, wheat, gene, resistance

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(21), pp. 3153-3159