Development of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines with specific rust resistance genes and their authentication through molecular markers

High yielding cultivars of wheat viz. PBW343, UP2338 and WH542 were used to incorporate multiple rust resistance genes against leaf, stem and stripe rusts from winter wheat or agronomically inferior wheat lines carrying known rust resistance genes. Genetic stocks were evaluated for seedling resistance as well as field resistance with prevalent and virulent pathotypes of Puccinia triticina, Puccinia graminis tritici and Puccinia striiformis. With the help of classical tools resistance genes were fixed in the early generation. Incorporation of resistance gene in the genetic stock viz.Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, YrSP, Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, Lr26, Lr32, Lr39, Lr28, Lr42, Lr45 was confirmed through allelism tests and presence of leaf rust resistance genes viz.Lr9, Lr19, Lr24 and Lr26 were also authenticated through molecular markers. Rust resistance and utility of genetic stocks are discussed.