Leaf rust occurrence in European winter wheat varieties and breeding lines

Abstract

In 1998 and 1999, 52 winter wheat varieties and breeding lines originated from ten European countries were tested for their reaction to leaf rust, the inoculum was a mixture of races UN3-61SaBa and UN13-77SaBa. Twenty six varieties and lines stayed in the same group (susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderate, moderately resista nt) in both years, with the majority being moderately resistant. Of the Czech varieties Asta, Rexia and VIada stayed in the same group in both years. Some varieties moved from one group in 1998 to another in 1999. Some of the moderately resistant varieties and lines (Hereward, WW2568, P8634, Trakos, WW251 0, Asset, WW2564) showed a hypersensitive reaction (chlorosis, necrosis). There were differences in the number of diseased plants between groups with a different reaction to leaf rust mainly at the beginning of the epidemic