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Genetics

Genetic Properties of Inhibitor Genes in Flax Rust that Alter Avirulence to Virulence on Flax. D. A. Jones, Graduate student, Department of Genetics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Present address: Department of Plant Pathology, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064; Phytopathology 78:342-344. Accepted for publication 13 July 1987. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-78-342.

The properties of inhibitor genes in two strains of flax rust (Melampsora lini) that alter avirulence to virulence on flax (Linum usitatissimum) were investigated by testcross analysis. In rust CH5, a single gene or a tightly linked cluster of genes, designated I-1, was shown to inhibit interactions involving the A-L1, A-L7, A-L8, A-L10, and A-M1 avirulence genes. In rust I, a second inhibitor gene, designated I-2, inhibited interactions involving the A-M1 gene and was shown to be allelic or very tightly linked to I-1. It is suggested that I-1 may have two components, one of which is L group specific and the other M group specific, while I-2 has only one of these.