Non Specific Adult Plant Disease Resistance — Genetics and Molecular Mapping

Non race specific adult plant disease resistance is determined by a certain type of resistance genes which was maintained in wheat breeding programs by assessing continuously the field resistance at different stages of plant development and at different locations and years. Generally it is expected that non specific adult plant disease resistance is inherited quantitatively. Here we report the identification of loci determining non specific resistance against stripe and leaf rust by using wheat lines identified from a 25 years program of resistance breeding. The expression of the resistance of these lines was not influenced by any change of virulences since the 1970s. In several progenies segregating for the disease resistance against stripe rust or leaf rust a monogenic inheritance was observed. Selected populations were used for molecular mapping. So far one resistance gene was mapped on the short arm of chromosome 3B. The genetic relationships to other major genes or quantitative trait loci controlling adult plant disease resistance against rusts in wheat are discussed.