Mining Middle Eastern and Central Asian Barley Germplasm to Understand Diversity for Resistance to Puccinia hordei, Causal Agent of Leaf Rust

Vast collections of barley germplasm have been established and conserved in various global gene banks. These hold tremendous genetic diversity for resistance genes to Puccinia hordei, a causal agent leaf rust. This study was undertaken discover, characterize postulate the known Rph (resistance hordei) identify novel sources ASR (all-stage resistance) APR (adult plant P. hordei. A core set 315 lines were rust-tested as seedlings their response eight Australian pathotypes hordei genotyped with molecular markers linked characterised genes. tests led postulation rust Rph1, Rph2, Rph3, Rph9.am, Rph12, Rph15, Rph19 Rph25 singly or combination. Field revealed that vast majority (84%) carried APR. Genotyping APR-carrying bPb-0837, Ebmac0603 sun43-44 identified likely carry Rph20, Rph23 Rph24 Thirty-nine per cent negative all three thus postulated uncharacterized The this provide valuable resource breeders further utilization diversifying basis barley.