SCREENING OF WHEAT LR-GENES FOR RESISTANCE TO PUCCINIA TRITICINA IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS REGION CONDITIONS
<p><em>Currently, more than 70 wheat rust resistance genes are known, but few of them are effective. The purpose of this work is to screen lines of Lr gene carriers for resistance to leaf rust under conditions of the North Caucasus region. Investigations were carried out in 2016-2018 at the infectious site of VNIIBZR. Research material was 49 near isogenic lines of winter wheat cultivar Thatcher. Infectious material was the combined populations of P. triticina, obtained as a result of route surveys of industrial and breeding crops of winter wheat in the areas of the Krasnodar, Stavropol Territories and the Rostov Region, conducted in 2016-2018. According to the assessment, the genes are ranked as follows: - highly efficient genes (plants with no signs of damage): Lr9, Lr42, Lr43 + 24 and Lr50; effective (1R-5R) Lr genes: 19, 24, 29, 36, 37, 38, 45, 47; moderately effective (10MR-20MR) Lr genes: 17, 18, 21, 22a, 28, 32, 41, 52. The remaining Lr-lines were susceptible to P. triticina (25 MR - 90S) to varying degrees. Highly efficient and effective genes Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, Lr29, Lr38, Lr42, Lr43 + 24, Lr47 and Lr50 showed resistance in the seedling phase and can be recommended for inclusion in breeding programs to protect wheat from leaf rust in different phases of plant ontogenesis in the North Caucasus region.</em></p>