PHENOTYPIC EVALUATION OF ADVANCED BREAD WHEAT GENOTYPES FOR THE RESISTANCE TO STRIPE (YELLOW) RUST (PUCCINIA STRIIFORMIS F.SP. TRITICI) IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethiopia’s government has commitment to achieve wheat self-sufficiency through initiatives of wheat are expansion, irrigation development and management of yield gaps caused by biotic factors especially wheat rusts. Wheat yellow (stripe) rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (Pst) is regular production constraint with high epidemics and evolving of new race in the world especially in East Africa embracing the Ethiopian wheat production. Acquaintance and recognizing of resistant wheat genotypes at adult plant stage to yellow rust disease have special significance to manipulate genetic resistance that reduce cost of production for the fungicides and its application, and frequency of serious epidemics to enhance wheat production in Ethiopia. Thus, utilization of host plant resistance is the preeminent and successful tactics to meet the needs of wheat producers. Hence, the present research was implemented with objective of examining the novel sources of advanced bread wheat genotypes for the resistant to wheat yellow (stripe) rust at dedicated screening sites. A total of 1166 wheat genotypes sourced 606, 452, 95 and 13; from local cross, CIMMYT and ICARDA introductions, and commercial cultivars were evaluated at both Bekoji and Meraro dedicated yellow rust nursery screening sites. Of the tested genotypes 96, 72, 20 and 3 materials were performed best and selected for the resistance to yellow rust in dedicated screening nursery sites that were sourced from local cross, CIMMYT and ICARDA and commercial varieties respectively. Thus, selected genotypes with better level of durable resistance could be incorporated in crossing blocks to develop resistant wheat varieties in order to improve the future wheat breeding program of Ethiopia.

Keywords

• stripe rust
• dedicated nursery
• resistant genotypes
• durable resistance