Genetic architecture of durable leaf rust resistance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The genetics of non-hypersensitive response against leaf rust pathotype 77-5 in bread wheat was studied through diallel analysis of twelve parents in two environments. Combining ability analysis indicated influence of environment. Parents Parula ‘S’, Tonichi ‘S’ and Dove ‘S’ were the best combiners for non-hypersensitive leaf rust resistance. Promising specific cross-combinations were Parula ‘S’/Wl711, Parula ‘S’/Agra Local and Dove ‘S’/WL711. Component analysis revealed that both additive and non-additive components of variance were important. Maximum concentration of dominant genes were present in cultivars Parula ‘S’, Dove ‘S’ and Tonichi ‘S’ whereas cultivars Romany ‘S’, Chilero ‘S’ and PBW 361 possessed maximum number of recessive genes. Such non-hypersensitive durable resistance against most virulent pathtype 77-5 of leaf rust would be of interest to wheat breeders.