Identification of Sr67, a new gene for stem rust resistance in KU168-2 located close to the Sr13 locus in wheat

Re-appearance of stem rust disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), in different parts of Europe emphasized the need to develop wheat varieties with effective resistance to local Pgt populations and exotic threats. A Kyoto University wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accession KU168-2 was reported to carry good resistance to leaf and stem rust. To identify the genomic region associated with the KU168-2 stem rust resistance, a genetic study was conducted using a doubled haploid (DH) population from the cross RL6071 x KU168-2. The DH population was phenotyped with three Pgt races (TTKSK, TPMKC, and QTHSF) and genotyped using the Illumina 90 K wheat SNP array. Linkage mapping showed the resistance to all three Pgt races was conferred by a single stem rust resistance (Sr) gene on chromosome arm 6AL, associated with Sr13. Presently, four Sr13 resistance alleles have been reported. Sr13 allele-specific KASP and STARP markers, and sequencing markers all showed null alleles in KU168-2. KU168-2 showed a unique combination of seedling infection types for five Pgt races (TTKSK, QTHSF, RCRSF, TMRTF, and TPMKC) compared to Sr13 alleles. The phenotypic uniqueness of the stem rust resistance gene in KU168-2 and null alleles for Sr13 allele-specific markers showed the resistance was conferred by a new gene, designated Sr67. Since Sr13 is less effective in hexaploid background, Sr67 will be a good source of stem rust resistance in bread wheat breeding programs.