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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research » Research » Research Project #444271

Research Project: Evaluation of Wheat Rust Resistance in South Texas

Location: Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research

Project Number: 3020-21000-012-018-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 1, 2023
End Date: Aug 30, 2025

Objective:
Determine rust resistance reactions to stem rust, stripe rust, and leaf rust diseases for advanced breeding lines in the Southern Plains.

Approach:
A wheat breeding nursery will be established near Castroville, TX to screen for resistance against naturally occurring stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust epidemics. This "hot spot" nursery will test USDA-ARS regional nursery entries (SRPN, RGON) adapted to the Southern Plains. This nursery will also test additional entries from public and private wheat breeding programs in the US that are targeted for adaptation to Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Data on resistance reactions will be provided to USDA-ARS for posting to the regional nursery website. Genotyping of DNA markers for rust resistance genes and adaptation genes will be conducted by USDA-ARS and posted as well. Wheat breeders will use the data for making selections of new, rust-resistant cultivars. Shifts in the resistance reactions of check entries will be used to monitor for changes in rust populations.