This is the 5th rust resistance gene reported from India
In a recent study done by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (ICAR-IIWBR) , Regional Station, Flowerdale, Shimla, H.P, an interesting resistance pattern of leaf rust resistance was observed while studying a local wheat collection for rust resistance.
The bread wheat, landrace Hango-2, collected in 2006 from the Himalayan area of Hango, District Kinnaur, in Himachal Pradesh, exhibited a low infection type (IT;) at the seedling stage to all Indian P. triticina pathotypes, except the pathotype 5R9-7 which produced IT 3+. Pathotype 5R9-7(16-1) does not infect bread wheat cultivars, however, is virulent on tetraploid wheat Khapli.
Genetic analysis based on Agra Local/Hango-2-derived F3 families indicated monogenic control of leaf rust resistance, and the underlying locus was temporarily named LrH2. Bulked segregant analysis using 303 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers located LrH2 in the short arm of chromosome 2D.
An additional set of 10 chromosome 2DS-specific markers showed polymorphism between the parents and these were mapped on the entire Agra Local/Hango-2 F3 population. LrH2 was flanked by markers cau96 (distally) and barc124 (proximally). The 90 K Infinium SNP array was used to identify SNP markers linked with LrH2.
This is the 5th rust resistance gene reported from India (others being Lr10, Lr48, Lr49, Lr57, and Lr58). Lr80, is being used to develop rust-resistant genetic stocks and wheat varieties. It will help in creating diversity and management of leaf rust in India.
