Transfer of stripe rust resistance gene Yr26 to Turkish wheats using microsatellite markers

Stripe rust (yellow rust) is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. The most effective control method of stripe rust is the use of resistance genes. A very effective stripe rust resistance gene, Yr26, originating from Triticum turgidum L., was transferred into two common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars of Turkey through backcrossing using closely linked microsatellite markers. A 6vs/6al translocation line (92R149) was used as the source of Yr26 because this gene was originally thought to be located in the short arm of chromosome 6V. Wheat cultivars, Gerek-79 and Gün-91, were used as the recurrent parents in backcrossing. Resistant backcross lines were selected using closely linked chromosome 1B microsatellite markers (Xgwm11 and Xgwm18). Resistant backcross lines were also screened with a 6VS specific SCAR marker (SCAR1265), and results reconfirmed that Yr26 was not carried on 6VS. Highly resistant BC4F3 plants of Gerek-79 and Gün-91 were produced and the existence of Yr26 was confirmed with the linked Xgwm11 and Xgwm18 microsatellite markers.