Assessment of Elite Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Germplasm for Powdery Mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici) Resistance

Abstract

Background:  Powdery mildew is a significant fungal disease that poses a serious threat to wheat production worldwide. It reduces grain yield and quality by damaging plant tissues and inhibiting photosynthesis. Early infection can lead to substantial crop losses, making effective management and control strategies critical for maintaining wheat productivity and ensuring food security. Aim: In the current investigation, an effort was made to confirm the resistance with gene linked markers in the genotypes showing phenotypic resistance to powdery mildew in the field conditions under epiphytotic conditions highlights the importance of finding resistant genotypes since they minimize crop losses, increase food security, use fewer pesticides, are environmentally benign, etc. that happened in 2021–2022. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, between December during 2021-2022. Methodology: Twenty genotypes VL2041, HPW349, HS507, VL907, HD3349 PBW876B, DBW313, HD2967, HI1628, HI8827(d), MACS5057, PBW874, PBW874, PBW873, WH1270(I), WH1406, PBW868, WH1407, DBW368, along with two control: PBW343(C) and HS562(C) were taken. Results: Characterized wheat genotypes can contribute to future breeding programs and the development of resistant wheat varieties in a number of ways, including: genetic diversity, drought stress, salinity stress, heat stress, and climate resilience. From the current investigation it can be concluded that four of the thirteen SSR markers that were used, representing 20 genotypes, were amplified in order to verify the resistance in genotypes exhibiting phenotypic resistance to powdery mildew. Conclusion: Molecular marker characterization revealed that Xgwm312 confirmed the resistance to 9 genotypes (HS562, VL2041, PBW874, DBW313, DBW368, WH1407, HD3349, PBW873, and HD3043). Cfd26 confirmed the resistance in five genotypes (HS562, VL2041, DBW313, HS5079 and HD3043).  Xgwm174 confirmed the resistance in seven genotypes HS562, VL2041, WH1406, DBW368, WH1407, HPW349, and PBW873 and the marker Xgwm182 confirmed the resistance in 7 genotypes (HS562, DBW187 (I) (C), WH1406, VL907, HS507, WH1407, HPW349 out of 20 genotypes.