We pyramided 10 QTL/genes for two grain quality traits (high grain weight and high grain protein content) and resistance against all the three rusts. Two lines each in the background of wheat cv. PBW343 were used, which were earlier developed by us using marker assisted selection (MAS). The line ‘A’ carried the following eight QTL/genes: Gpc-B1/Yr36+QPhs.ccsu3A.1+QGw.ccsu-1A.3+Lr24/Sr24+Glu-A1-1/Glu-A1-2 and the line ‘B’ carried the following five genes:

Yr70/Lr76+Lr37/Yr17/Sr38. These two lines were intercrossed to produce F1 hybrid. Following MAS in F2 and F3 generations, 39 lines were selected, each containing 2 QTL/genes for two grain quality traits and eight genes for resistance to three rust diseases in homozygous state in the background of PBW343. In F4 generation, all the 39 lines were screened for resistance against four Puccinia striiformis f. sp. Tritici (Pst) pathotypes (238S119, 78S84, T, 110S119), five Puccinia triticina (Pt) pathotypes (12-5, 77-5, 77-8, 77-9 and 104-2) and seven Puccinia graminis f. sp. Tritici (Pgt) pathotypes (11, 21A-2, 34-1, 40A, 40-1, 117-6 and 122) pathotypes prevalent in India. Improved lines were resistant to two pathotypes (78S84 and T) of Pst, all the five pathotypes of Pt and all the seven pathotypes of Pgt. Therefore, the derived lines have resistance against all the three rusts in all the major wheat growing areas of India. The improved lines are also being evaluated at two locations (Meerut and Ludhiana) during the current crop season for grain quality and agronomic traits to evaluate their potential for use in future wheat breeding programmes.