A five-transgene cassette confers broad-spectrum resistance to a fungal rust pathogen in wheat

Breeding wheat with durable resistance to the fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), a major threat cereal production, is challenging due rapid evolution of virulence. Increased durability and broad-spectrum can be achieved by introducing more than one gene, but combining numerous unlinked genes breeding laborious. Here we generate polygenic Pgt transgene cassette five into bread as single locus show that at least four are functional. These lines resistant aggressive highly virulent isolates from around world very high levels in field. The simple monogenic inheritance this multigene greatly simplifies its use breeding. However, new isolate virulence several suggests gene stacks will need strategic deployment maintain their effectiveness. Combining fungal-resistance enables generation lines.