New Sources of Resistance to Yellow Rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei) in Barely

In order to identify new diverse sources of resistance to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei) in barley germplasm a total of 607 accessions of indigenous and exotic origin were evaluated during four years (1999–2003) under artificial inoculation in the field with mix inocula of races 24, 57, G and M. The resistant accessions Identified in the field screening for at least three years were further evaluated for seedling resistance test (SRT) with seven races (24, 57, G, G-1, M, Q and a new biotype). Based on the field screening, 47 accessions were found resistant for more than two years. Seventeen highly resistant accessions were used for SRT and ten were found resistant to all the seven pathotypes. Interestingly, all these seventeen resistant accessions are of exotic origin and expected to add to the diversity of resistance to the yellow rust in the national programme.