Molecular evidences for population differentiation and the migration from south to north of Puccinia triticina in eastern China

Abstract Wheat leaf rust is caused by Puccinia triticina ( Pt ), leading to serious wheat yield loss in the world. To study population structure and reveal transmission routes of eastern China, samples were collected from main wheat-producing areas April June 2020. Total 372 strains amplified 13 SSR makers a high level genetic diversity was revealed with 289 multi-locus genotypes (MLG) identified. STRUCTURE analysis suggests that all assigned 3 clusters, 11 populations further defined considering geographic locations. All 55 pairwise had number migration Nm ) values > 1, indicating moderate differentiation frequent exchanges among populations. The significant different northern southern regions bounded Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River line. regions, such as Jiangsu, Anhui Zhejiang provinces, higher variation, Jiangsu might play an important role epidemic . Both communication horizontal wind field analyses showed gene flow than reverse direction. demonstrated dispersal route Chinese would provide valuable information for epidemiological studies disease control.