Genetic analysis of host–pathogen incompatibility between Lolium isolates of Pyricularia oryzae and wheat

Lolium isolate TP2 of Pyricularia oryzae, causal agent of gray leaf spot of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), is virulent on perennial ryegrass, but avirulent on wheat cultivars. Genetic analysis of wheat F₂ populations revealed that the resistance of wheat cultivars Chinese Spring, Shin-chunaga, and Norin 4 to TP2 was conditioned by two genes, R1 and R2. R1 was highly effective, while R2 was less effective. The strong resistance gene R1, designated Rmg6, was mapped on chromosome 1D using microsatellite markers. For revealing genetic mechanisms of avirulence, TP2 was crossed with Triticum isolate Br48. Segregation analysis of their F₁ progenies revealed that the avirulence of TP2 on the three wheat cultivars was conditioned by two unlinked genes, one (A1) highly effective and the other (A2) less effective. These results suggest that the incompatibility between TP2 and the common wheat cultivars is conditioned by two gene pairs; the Rmg6–A1 interaction results in strong resistance, and the R2–A2 interaction results in moderate resistance.