Interactions Between or and Other Leaf Rust Resistance Genes in Wheat ().

The wheat multi-pest resistance genes and are similar in that they both condition resistance to many diseases, in a non-race-specific manner, and code for cellular transporters. plays a critical role in breeding wheat for disease resistance in large part because it interacts with other resistance genes to result in effective and durable resistance. To determine if interacts with other resistance genes in a similar manner as six different doubled haploid populations were developed which segregated for either or along with a second resistance gene, either , , or . The presence or absence of each of these genes in the progeny lines was determined by molecular marker analysis. These six populations were tested for leaf rust field resistance in the same environments to compare the effects of and alone, and in combination with , or . and significantly reduced the levels of rust severity, showed a significant interaction with but did not. Both genes interacted with , and had a significant interaction with . This analysis demonstrates the similar effect of , as seen with , on the interaction with other resistance genes to give a better level of resistance than with single resistance genes. While is not widely deployed in agriculture, it could play an important role in disease resistance in future wheat cultivars.