A study conducted by scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) reveals that the Afghan wheat landrace KU3067 has resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust, a research finding that can be used in the development of disease-resistant wheat varieties.

Rust pathogens are fungal pathogens found everywhere and pose a serious threat to wheat production. The preferred strategy to combat these diseases is to breed wheat varieties with genetic resistance. Landraces are a treasure trove of trait diversity and offer an excellent choice for incorporating new traits into breeding germplasm. They serve as a reservoir of genetic variations that can be used to mitigate current and future food challenges.

The study unraveled the genetic basis of resistance against Mexican races of leaf rust and stripe rust using Afghan landrace KU3067. The study showcased new genomic regions for rust resistance and is the first report of Lr67/Yr46 in landraces. Lr67/Yr46 significantly reduced leaf rust and stripe rust by 37.9–66.9 and 35.1–48.6 percent, respectively. This adult plant resistance (APR) gene confirms multi-pathogenic resistance to three rust diseases and powdery mildew.

For more details, read the article on the CIMMYT website or download the paper in Frontiers in Plant Science.