Wheat Breeding Station, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, SIMLA-4
Online published on 25 January, 2012.
Seven varieties of barley possessing known Yr genes were tested against ten Indian races of stripe rust. The results indicated that yr 3 gene present in variety 1–5 was effective against all the races. It was also noted that variety Ab. 14 possesses additional gene/genes besides the known yr gene controlling resistance to all the ten races studied. These two varieties can therefore be profitably used in the breeding programme for incorporating stripe rust resistance. The seedling reactions of 35 genetic stocks showed that the frequency of genes governing resistance to Indian races of stripe rust is quite low in the material tested. Only two varieties viz., EB 1556 and EB 1626 from Ethiopia were resistant to all the races. All other varieties were susceptible to races 24, 57 or G. As very few barley varieties were found resistant to all the races it would be desirable to attempt complex crosses involving four or five resistant donors in order to combine resistance to all the races into newly evolved cultivars. Efforts in the direction of locating diverse genes governing resistance to races 24, 57 and G should however be continued for utilization in the breeding programme in future.
