Assessment of macroscopic components of leaf rust resistance in wheat genotypes containing Lr12 and Lr13

Monogenic resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to leaf rust, caused by Puccinia recondita Rob. ex. Desm. f. sp. tritici, has generally not been durable. Durable resistance, as well as an improved expression of resistance, have been associated with Lr gene combinations. In this study, the assumption that Lr12 and Lr13 may interact to condition improved resistance to leaf rust, was investigated. Four Thatcher (Tc) x RL6011 F3 lines (13/12–3, 13/12–9, 13/12- 19 and 13/12–40), homozygous for both Lr13 and Lr12, were selected and their leaf rust resistance compared with the parents (CT263 [=TcLr13] and RL6011 [=TcLr12]), the single gene lines Tc/13–22 and TC/12–16, and Thatcher. In addition to infection type studies in seedlings and adult plants, lines were compared according to macroscopic components of resistance, as well as disease ratings in the field. Flag leaf infection type studies showed that Lr12 is effective against most pathotypes of P. recondita f. sp. tritici occurring in South Africa. Conve...