Response of 150 F-6 inbred durum wheat lines derived from Kunduru-1149 x Cham-1 cross to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis)

Abstract

One hundred and fifty F-6 inbred durum wheat lines derived from Kunduru-1149 x Cham-1 cross were characterised in terms of their response to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) race population including Yr2, Yr6, Yr7 and Yr9 virulence genes. The results revealed that there is a considerable amount of genetic variation among these lines and yellow rust resistance in durum wheat is highly heritable (92%). Twenty-five of 150 lines (16.67%) were found totally immune, 104 of them (69.33%) were found to be resistant or moderately resistant while only 21 of them (14%) were found to be susceptible. Hence, 86% of the lines tested in this study could be used as a source of yellow rust resistance in breeding programmes. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.