In Australia, GroundCover reported that a genetic map including more than 2,100 wheat accessions has been developed by Chinese scientists to uncover resistance gene sources for the fungal disease wheat stripe rust. This breakthrough will help plant breeders to develop disease-resistant varieties, according to the report.
According to the researchers, this rapidly mutating disease generates a new dominant pathotype approximately every five years. It is responsible for an estimated 10% of global wheat yield loss annually.
Over the course of five years, the research team analyzed genetic samples of wheat from around the world, as well as 47,000 records of stripe rust responses from multiple locations and pathogen races. They found 559 candidate genes associated with stripe rust resistance. Three novel resistance genes were cloned.
Professor Han Dejun, from the Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, said the map is a rich resource for deploying resistance genes to wheat breeding programs.
“Unlike some current varieties, which typically lose resistance within 3 to 5 years due to pathogen evolution, the new genes could potentially retain their efficacy for over a decade and potentially longer,” he said.
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Category: Food & Agriculture
