107(1)_str9

ISSN 1392-3196 / e-ISSN 2335-8947
Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, vol. 107, No. 1 (2020), p. 63–70
DOI 10.13080/z-a.2020.107.009

An analysis of the functionality of molecular markers related to the Lr19 gene conditioning resistance to wheat leaf rust

Angelika KIEL, Dorota WEIGT, Martyna KARPIŃSKA, Danuta KURASIAK-POPOWSKA,
Janetta NIEMANN, Agnieszka TOMKOWIAK, Sylwia MIKOŁAJCZYK, Jerzy NAWRACAŁA

Abstract

Among all cereals, common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) occupies the largest area of crops worldwide. Wheat leaf rust, caused by the pathogen Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici considerably reduces the yield of wheat. Breeding for resistance combined with selection based on molecular markers may become an effective tool in the struggle against fungal diseases. Lr19 is the gene that carries high resistance to wheat leaf rust. In recent years, we have seen the development of many molecular markers in close neighbourhood of the Lr19 gene, e.g., SCS265, SCS253, GB, Xwmc221, XustSSR2001-7DL, Xgwm37 and Xgwm44. The aim of the study was to investigate the functionality of molecular markers related to the Lr19 gene. The study was based on two reference genotypes with the Lr19 gene (‘Agatha’ and Lr19) and three lines strongly infested by wheat leaf rust. Seven molecular markers were analysed, but only two of them (GB and Xwmc221) proved to be specific to the gene under study. These markers were used for analysis of 25 wheat genotypes, which were evaluated for leaf rust resistance in field conditions to confirm their usefulness for selection of breeding material.

These findings point to the need of continuous search for functional molecular markers giving repeatable and reliable results.

Key words: common wheat, Lr19, molecular markers, Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici.

Full text: 107_1_str9.pdf