An uncharacterized source of seedling resistance to
Puccinia striiformis f.sp.
tritici was identified in an advanced wheat breeding line WAWHT2046. Genetic analysis based on a WAWHT2046/Carnamah-derived double
haploid (DH) population demonstrated monogenic inheritance of seedling stripe rust resistance in WAWHT2046. The gene controlling
stripe rust resistance in line WAWHT2046 was tentatively designated
YrWA. The chromosome 5AL located awn inhibitor gene
B1, possessed by WAWHT2046, also showed monogenic inheritance when the DH population was scored for the presence and absence
of awns. Joint segregation analysis at the
B1 and
YrWA loci indicated genetic linkage between the two loci. A recombination value of 12.2 cM was computed using Mapmanager. This
association located
YrWA in the chromosome arm 5AL. Molecular mapping using microsatellite markers placed
YrWA distal to
B1. All molecular markers mapped proximal to the awn inhibitor locus
B1. As no other stripe rust resistance gene is reported to be located in the chromosome arm 5AL,
YrWA was permanently designated as
Yr34.
Yr34 produced an intermediate (23C) seedling infection type and expressed very low stripe rust response (10R-MR) on adult plants
in the field, similar to the resistance gene
Yr17. In addition to
Yr34, this mapping population segregated for three genetically independent adult plant stripe rust resistance genes. The detection
of DH lines with completely susceptible response, higher than that shown by the
Yr34-lacking parent Carnamah, suggested that both parents contributed adult plant resistance. The use of WAWHT2046 as a parent
in breeding programs would also contribute APR in addition to
Yr34.
Communicated by B. Friebe