abstract
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Stem rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici can cause complete wheat crop loss within a few weeks of infection. Through the use of resistant cultivars no major epidemics of stem rust have occurred on spring wheat in Canada since 1950s, but it remains an imminent threat to the Canadian Prairie region. The objective of this study was to map and identify quantitative loci for resistance against stem rust in the Canada Western Red Spring wheat cultivar Carberry. A doubled haploid population of 297 lines was generated from an F1of the cross Carberry/Thatcher. The population was tested for resistance to stem rust in disease inoculated field nurseries near Swift Current, SK in 2014and 2016 and near Brandon, MB in 2018. Stem rust severity and infection response was collected at all locations. A genetic map of the population was constructed using high density 90K SNP markers, and QTL analysis was performed. Carberry consistently expressed in all test environments resistance loci on chromosomes 1B, 5D, 6B and 7D. Carberry also possessed resistance loci on chromosomes 2B and 3D identified in the Brandon 2018 field nursery only. In contrast, Thatcher was the source of the resistance on chromosome 7A that explained up to 5% of the total variation for either stem rust severity or infection response. Carberry alleles cumulatively explained up to 54.8% of the total phenotypic variation in the stem rust severity and 46.5% of the variation in the infection response suggesting the presence of yet unidentified genes. The resistance on 7D is attributed to the adult plant resistance gene Sr57/Lr34/Yr18/Pm38. The 1B locus is a candidate for Sr58/Lr46/Yr29/Pm39, a gene which is known for its resistance against multiple fungal pathogens including stem rust. The other two consistent loci on 5D and 6B could represent novel genes. Markers associated with these QTL will be useful in maintaining or improving stem rust resistance during wheat breeding.