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Detection and Manipulation of Resistance to Septoria nodorum in Wheat. A. L. Scharen, Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59715; J. M. Krupinsky, Biological Technician, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59715. Phytopathology 68:245-248. Accepted for publication 25 July 1977. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-245.

A method is described for obtaining resistance to Septoria nodorum in wheat. Seedling plants in each self-fertilized, but segregating generation (F₂, F₃, F₄, F₅) were subjected to a heavy inoculation with a mixture of isolates of S. nodorum. The most resistant plants, as measured by the degree of chlorosis and necrosis, as well as the number and size of lesions in seedling leaves from each generation, were grown to maturity and bulk-harvested to provide seed for the next generation. The F₆ progeny of all crosses were more resistant than their parents. The F₇ progeny were significantly better than the F₂ generation and in most cases, significantly better than their parents on the basis of number of lesions and percentage necrosis per square centimeter. The method proved to be effective for detecting and accumulating resistance to S. nodorum in wheat seedlings.