Identification of genes for resistance to leaf and stem rust in breeding lines of spring common wheat from the secondary gene pool of Arsenal collection

Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks.) and stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) are the main causes of declining wheat yields in Russia and abroad. Epidemics of these diseases lead to significant economic losses. In recent years, there has been increased pressure from new, more aggressive races of pathogens. As a result, a breeding strategy aimed at protecting wheat varieties from these diseases is extremely relevant and a priority. The aim of this work was to identify effective and partially effective genes of resistance to leaf (Lr19, Lr24, Lr26, Lr29, Lr34, Lr37) and stem (Sr17, Sr22, Sr36, Sr39, Sr47) rust in the Ob forest-­steppe of the Altai Territory for the further development of a set of breeding measures aimed at creating new varieties of spring wheat with resistance to rust diseases in local conditions using modern methods of molecular marker selection. The material for the study was 25 promising lines of spring common wheat of secondary origin from Arsenal collection (Nemchinovka Research Center) with group resistance to leaf-stem diseases and having genetic material of the species Aegilops speltoides, Ae. triuncialis, Triticum kiharae, Secale cereale and T. migushovae in the pedigree. Molecular analysis made it possible to determine effective Lr genes in 80 %, and Sr genes in all tested accessions. The largest number of identified genes (5–6) were found in the following lines: 5–16i, 20–16i, 34–16i, 44–16i, 45–16i, 48–16i, 53–16i, and the smallest (2–3) in: 1–16i, 14–16i, 19–16i, 21–16i, 25–16i, 40–16i, 49–16i, 61–16i and 135/10i. The desired Lr genes were not found in accessions 1–16i, 28–16i, 49–16i, 61–16i. The results of the studies showed the presence of a wide range of genes of resistance to leaf and stem rust, which indicates the donor properties of the lines of Arsenal collection and the possibility of their effective use in marker associated selection in the development of wheat varieties resistant to rust diseases.