Screening of CIMMYT Wheat Genotypes against Yellow Rust in Egypt

Yellow (stripe) rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is a serious problem of wheat (Triticum aestivum) production in many parts of the world including Egypt. The pathogen is capable to produce new physiological races that attack resistant varieties and develop epidemic under optimal environmental conditions which results in a serious yield loss. Host resistance is the most economical way to manage wheat stripe rust. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the reaction of 53 wheat genotypes, delivered to Egypt by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) by artificial inoculation against the major virulent races at adult plant stage at two locations; Itay El-Baroud and Sakha Agricultural Research Stations; during three growing seasons i.e. 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19. Results of the current study showed that 34 wheat genotypes; No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45 and 48 were resistant and had the lowest values of FRS, ACI, and AUDPC. Therefore, we can select these genotypes as resistant lines in the breeding program for resistance to yellow rust. As for 1000 kernel weight, 10 wheat genotypes i.e. 4, 6, 11, 14, 17, 28, 33, 34, 41 and 48 showed the highest values of 1000 kernel weight and were also resistant to yellow rust. Correlation analysis of different parameters also showed a high correlation between FRS, ACI, RRI and AUDPC with 1000 kernel weight of the tested wheat genotypes. Intensive genetic and molecular studies are useful for developing high yielding and disease resistant wheat cultivars in Egypt.