Investigation, identification and introgression of a novel stripe rust resistant genes using marker-assisted selection in breeding wheat genotype

Abstract Stripe rust is the most harmful and prevalent disease among global wheat genotypes worldwide. It is induced by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. Its disease can also create new physiological races that attack resistant genotypes and constitute a severe danger to wheat output. The improvement of genetic resistance using Yr's genes through breeding programs that were not previously operated in Egypt in wheat genotypes is an effective strategy for preventing the disease. The marker-assisted selection with PCR-based methods was used to characterize the degree of slow rusting resistance for 38 wheat genotypes to stripe rust. The findings on the slow rusting genes support the resistance in the genotypes and can be used in wheat breeding programs to produce new stripe rust-resistant genotypes. The genotypes were classified into three major categories based on four disease parameters. The first group consisted of resistant genotypes. The second group had the lowest values of disease parameters and slower rusting. The third group showed the highest values for the disease parameters, including fast-rust genotypes, over the course of three seasons. The results revealed that the Super Kauz, Opata/Pastor, PBW 343/KKU, Opata 58, Chuan Nong 19, and IRAG genotypes enclosing Yr5, Yr15, Yr33, Yr37, Yr34, Yr51, Yr57, Yr4BL, and Yrkk genes were so resistant to stripe rust. while the Misr 3, Misr 4, Giza 168, Giza 167, Giza 170, Giza 171, Gemmeiza-9, and Gemmeiza-10 genotypes have the Yr9 gene. Giza 168, Giza 170, Gemmeiza-9, Gemmeiza-10, and Sids-14, containing the Yr18 and Yr29 genes. while the Yr17 and Yr27 genes were present in the Sids 13 and the most virulent genotype, respectively. In the backcrossing program, the genes were integrated into susceptible wheat genotypes, and different BC generations were created. From susceptible genotypes, stripe rust affected Gemmeiza 11, Misr 1, and Sids 14. These genotypes have high importance for farmers; they are cultivated in large areas worldwide, and the quality of their flour is high. Therefore, we intergraded Yr5 and Yr10 genes into these three genotypes using a breeding program. Finally, the characteristic of resistance improved and the high-yield production increased in studied wheat genotypes.