Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is a destructive fungal disease of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and poses a major challenge to wheat production in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The continuous evolution and variable nature of stem rust predispose wheat to serious genetic v...

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Main Authors: Kemboi, Jenniffer J., Bhavani, Sridhar, Okwiri Ojwang, Pascal P.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Frontiers Media 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179222
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author Kemboi, Jenniffer J.
Bhavani, Sridhar
Okwiri Ojwang, Pascal P.
author_browse Bhavani, Sridhar
Kemboi, Jenniffer J.
Okwiri Ojwang, Pascal P.
author_facet Kemboi, Jenniffer J.
Bhavani, Sridhar
Okwiri Ojwang, Pascal P.
author_sort Kemboi, Jenniffer J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is a destructive fungal disease of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and poses a major challenge to wheat production in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The continuous evolution and variable nature of stem rust predispose wheat to serious genetic vulnerability, necessitating proactive incorporation of new and effective resistance sources into breeding lines. This study evaluated 25 wheat genotypes over three seasons at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Njoro, to assess resistance mechanisms and yield stability under stem rust pressure. A 5 x 5 partially balanced alpha lattice design was employed. Disease progression was assessed using final disease severity (FDS) and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), alongside evaluations of agronomic performance. Statistical analyses revealed significant (P <= 0.001) effects of genotype, season, and genotype x season interaction for AUDPC and agronomic traits. Grain yield (GY) was significantly (P <= 0.001) negatively correlated with disease components, and positively correlated with kernels per spike (KS), biomass (BM), harvest index (HI), and thousand kernel weight (TKW). Broad-sense heritability (H2) estimates ranged from 59.90% for grain filling period to 95.58% for FDS. Adult plant resistance genes Lr34/Yr18/Sr57, Lr46/Yr29/Sr58, Sr2/Yr30, and Lr67/Yr46/Sr55/Pm46 were detected in various combinations across 21 genotypes. Based on disease response and yield performance, genotypes 8790929, 8790027, 8790948, and 8790935 exhibited the highest levels of resistance and superior grain yield. These genotypes represent valuable sources of stem rust resistance and are recommended for use in breeding programs for gene introgression and varietal development.
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spelling CGSpace1792222025-12-23T02:16:59Z Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability Kemboi, Jenniffer J. Bhavani, Sridhar Okwiri Ojwang, Pascal P. stem rust soft wheat adult plant resistance genotype environment interaction wheat disease resistance Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is a destructive fungal disease of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and poses a major challenge to wheat production in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The continuous evolution and variable nature of stem rust predispose wheat to serious genetic vulnerability, necessitating proactive incorporation of new and effective resistance sources into breeding lines. This study evaluated 25 wheat genotypes over three seasons at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Njoro, to assess resistance mechanisms and yield stability under stem rust pressure. A 5 x 5 partially balanced alpha lattice design was employed. Disease progression was assessed using final disease severity (FDS) and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), alongside evaluations of agronomic performance. Statistical analyses revealed significant (P <= 0.001) effects of genotype, season, and genotype x season interaction for AUDPC and agronomic traits. Grain yield (GY) was significantly (P <= 0.001) negatively correlated with disease components, and positively correlated with kernels per spike (KS), biomass (BM), harvest index (HI), and thousand kernel weight (TKW). Broad-sense heritability (H2) estimates ranged from 59.90% for grain filling period to 95.58% for FDS. Adult plant resistance genes Lr34/Yr18/Sr57, Lr46/Yr29/Sr58, Sr2/Yr30, and Lr67/Yr46/Sr55/Pm46 were detected in various combinations across 21 genotypes. Based on disease response and yield performance, genotypes 8790929, 8790027, 8790948, and 8790935 exhibited the highest levels of resistance and superior grain yield. These genotypes represent valuable sources of stem rust resistance and are recommended for use in breeding programs for gene introgression and varietal development. 2025-06 2025-12-22T23:27:53Z 2025-12-22T23:27:53Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179222 en Open Access application/pdf Frontiers Media Kemboi, J. J., Bhavani, S., & Okwiri Ojwang, P. P. (2025). Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability. Frontiers In Plant Science, 16, 1581007. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1581007
spellingShingle stem rust
soft wheat
adult plant resistance
genotype environment interaction
wheat
disease resistance
Kemboi, Jenniffer J.
Bhavani, Sridhar
Okwiri Ojwang, Pascal P.
Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability
title Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability
title_full Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability
title_fullStr Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability
title_short Evaluation of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yield and yield stability
title_sort evaluation of elite wheat triticum aestivum l genotypes for resistance to stem rust puccinia graminis f sp tritici yield and yield stability
topic stem rust
soft wheat
adult plant resistance
genotype environment interaction
wheat
disease resistance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179222
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