Elusive rust resistance genes located

Two key rust resistance genes can now be easily tracked thanks to a discovery that is enabling plant breeders across the world to breed rust resistant wheat varieties.

CSIRO Plant Industry researcher Dr Evans Lagudah and his team have found a 99 per cent effective 'DNA marker' that flags the location of the gene combination Lr34 / Yr 18.

Both genes confer rust resistance in adult wheat plants and are effective against different strains of rust. Most other rust resistance genes are only effective against a limited range of rust strains.

Lr34 tackles leaf rust and Yr18 stripe rust by working together with other rust resistance genes to boost the plant's capacity to defend itself.

Wheat plants that contain the Lr34 / Yr18 combination of genes also experience slower rates of rust infection. This prevents widespread and rapid increase of rust spores reducing the potential for disease epidemics throughout the crop.

Dr Lagudah's Canberra based research is a breakthrough for plant breeders who can now effectively identify Lr34 / Yr18 in breeding programs. As a result the genes can be included as foundation genes with other resistance genes to develop more durable resistance in new wheat varieties.

This research is supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and done in collaboration with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico and the University of Sydney's Plant Breeding Institute.

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