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Genetic Control of Resistance to Tan Necrosis Induced by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Races 1 and 2, in Spring and Winter Wheat Genotypes

The symptoms of tan spot of wheat, caused by Pyrenophora triticirepentis, include a tan necrosis component and an extensive chlorosis component. Since tan spot has become the major component of the leafspotting disease complex of wheat in western Canada, the need for resistant cultivars has increased. This study was conducted to determine whether the resistance to tan spot found in a diverse set of spring and winter wheat genotypes was due to resistance genes not previously reported. The genetic control of resistance to necrosis induced by P. triticirepentis race 1 and race 2 was determined, under controlled environmental conditions, for spring wheat genotypes Erik and 86ISMN 2137 and winter wheat genotypes Hadden, Red Chief, and 6B-365. Plants were inoculated at the two-leaf stage and disease reaction was assessed based on lesion type. Tests of the F₁ and F₂ generations, and of F_2:3 and F_2:8 families, indicated that one recessive gene controlled resistance to the necrosis component of tan spot caused by both race 1 and race 2 in each cross studied. Lack of segregation in crosses between the resistant cultivars indicated that the resistance gene was the same in all of the cultivars.