An EST-SSR marker linked with yellow rust resistance in wheat

Expressed sequenced tags containing simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) were used to identify molecular markers associated with yellow rust resistance in Triticum aestivum. A cross between yellow rust resistant (PI178383) and susceptible (Harmankaya99) wheat genotypes was performed, respective DNA pools from the resistant and susceptible F2 seedlings were constructed and 78 EST-SSR primers were used for bulked segregant analysis. One EST-SSR marker (Pk54), identified as 200 bp fragment, was present in the resistant parent and resistant F2 hybrids but not in the susceptible ones. In total, 108 wheat genotypes differing in yellow rust resistance were screened with Pk54 and 68 % of the wheat genotypes, known to be yellow rust resistant, had the Pk54 marker, further suggesting that the presence of this marker correlates with yellow rust resistance.