Identification of wheat stripe rust resistance genes in Iranian wheat cultivars using molecular markers

Abstract

Yellow or stripe rust is one of the most important and destructive wheat diseases all over the world. The best strategy to control this disease is genetic resistance through combining several resistance genes which results in achieving long lasting resistance. Marker assisted selection has provided a suitable means towards this strategy. The aim of this study was to identify the race specific seedling genes Yr5 and Yr10 and the race non-specific APR gene Yr29 in a selection of 40 Iranian genotypes using STS and SSR markers. Therefore, genomic DNA was extracted from these genotypes, the susceptible cultivar Avocet ‘S’ as negative control, and the genotypes with corresponding resistance gene (positive controls). PCR was performed using YrSTS7/8, Xpsp3000 and Xwmc44 markers for Yr5, Yr10 and Yr29, respectively. The results indicated the presence of Yr5 in only 6 genotypes. The presence of a 260 bps band also showed that Yr10 was present in 12 genotypes while Yr29 was present in 13 cultivars. As all these three genes are effective against yellow rust pathogen in Iran, it will be an advantage to transfer them to promising lines and develop durable resistance.