Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop and powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei, is one of the most serious diseases that occurs on barley throughout the world. In the Middle East, which is the centre of diversity for barley and its pathogens, the wild barley–powdery mildew pathosystem co-evolves resulting in many specific resistances in the host as well as corresponding virulences in the pathogen. Many specific resistances have been used in European breeding programmes and a centre of pathogen diversity has arisen also especially in central Europe. This short review briefly summarizes the use of host resistances derived from wild barley and land races including the durable resistance gene mlo. The use of powdery mildew pathogenicity for studying new and unknown specific resistances and for identifying resistances in commercial varieties is described. However, highly heterogeneous wild barley is also characterized as a valuable source of minor genes for powdery mildew resistance. These might be exploited by barley breeders especially for winter barley improvement where the non-specific resistance gene mlo cannot be used.
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