Evaluation of Bread Wheat Genotypes for Adult Plant Resistance to Stem Rust

Abstract

Wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp tritici)  also known as 'polio of agriculture' is a ravaging disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) making it a foremost confront to wheat production in Ethiopia and other wheat producing countries of the world due to the frequently evolving of virulent pathogen races. Because of this, searching novel genes in wheat genotypes is a critical issue. Twenty eight advanced bread wheat genotypes were evaluated for their response against stem rust caused by Puccinia graminise under field conditions at Kulumsa and Asassa during 2018 main growing season. Evaluation was carried out through disease assessment including terminal stem rust severity (TRS) and coefficient of infection (ACI) under natural infection. Twenty two wheat genotypes viz; ETBW-8858, ETBW-8870, ETBW-8583, ETBW-8684, ETBW-9548, ETBW-9549, ETBW-9554, ETBW-9558, ETBW-9559, ETBW-9560, ETBW-8751, ETBW-8862, ETBW-8804, ETBW-8896, ETBW-8991, ETBW-9560, ETBW-9556, ETBW-9486, ETBW-9561, ETBW-9550, ETBW-9553 and ETBW-9555 out of twenty-eight evaluated genotypes were discovered to be adult plant resistant (TRS < 30 and ACI < 20 ) to stem rust disease at both screening sites. Therefore, these genotypes with high stem rust resistance could be backcrossed to widely acclimatized and high yielding but susceptible Ethiopian wheat varieties to prevent further wheat yield declines. However, may need to evaluate for seedling response to confirm whether the genotypes are true adult plant resistant.

Keywords: Adult plant, Puccinia graminis, Stem rust, TRS, Wheat genotypes.

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-23-05

Publication date: December 31^st 2020