Breeding Wheat for Rust Resistance: Conventional and Modern Approaches

Abstract

Three rusts are destructive, diminishing produce and nutritious value significantly, affect food availability and consequently food security through reductions in yield. In agricultural research institutes with mandate of wheat improvement, incorporating genes resistant against rust is matter of routine. The dilemma of rusts in wheat has been addressed the most, leading to discovery of principles of plant breeding for resistance e.g. gene disease genes inherit following Mendelian genetics, concept of genetic diversity and concept of gene for gene theory. Two strategies of breeding wheat for disease resistance are being followed. 1- Conventional and 2- Advanced. Among conventional approaches selection and hybridization are well known. However rust resistance has been found short lived and may also be durable in certain cases. Durability of disease resistance is desired and has been explored widely. Durability of resistance is generally attained through incorporation of genes effective at adult plant stage and combination of quantitative genes. Application of biotechnology to improve productivity of rust resistance breeding is the usage of molecular markers in pyramiding genes and substantiates the existence of genes in, and confirming released cultivars are pure. This involves molecular markers that are precise and pertinent across extensive ranges of breeders’ germplasm. This review article encompasses all features of wheat development through application of different techniques of wheat improvement. However, despite development of novel approaches that has accelerated wheat breeding, breeding in pathogen leading to producing more virulent strains. Consequently, wheat breeding is a continuous process.

Modern Approaches to Enhancing Rust Resistance in Wheat Leading to Global Food Security

“…Management of rust diseases in wheat involves a combination of cultural practices (Figueroa et al, 2018), chemical control (Afzal et al, 2020;Carmona et al, 2020), and genetic resistance (Afzal et al, 2018;2022a). Planting rust-resistant wheat varieties is one of the most effective and sustainable approaches to managing rust diseases (Afzal at al., 2015;2022b). Breeding programs have successfully incorporated resistance genes from various sources to develop wheat varieties with durable resistance against different rust pathogens (Ellis et al, 2014;Ijaz et al, 2023).…”

Unraveling the Genetic and Geographic Diversity of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. Tritici (Pst) Populations for Effective Control of Stripe Rust in Global Wheat Production

“…These pathogens are known to cause severe damage to crops, posing a constant threat to the production of wheat (Afzal et al, 2021(Afzal et al, , 2022a. The rust pathogens of wheat are considered to be among the most important crop pathogens due to their ability to spread quickly and infect entire fields, leading to significant yield losses (Afzal et al, 2015(Afzal et al, , 2022b. The disease caused by these pathogens is commonly referred to as rust, which appears as small, yellowish-orange pustules on the leaves, stems, and other parts of the plant.…”

Status of Wheat Germplasm Resistance Against Virulent Races of Leaf and Stripe Rust in Faisalabad, Pakistan

“…Globalization and increased air travel have enhanced the possibility of human exposure and the necessity to monitor more regions. Secondly, through sexual recombination or mutation changes, rust pathogens have evolved into new races (Park, 2007;Afzal et al, 2022b). Both stripe and leaf rusts are the main serious threat to grain production globally as well as in our country (Singh et al, 2015).…”