Wheat stem rust resistance genes cloned

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-06-08 08:00

Australia; NSW; SA

CSIRO

Scientists from CSIRO, University of Sydney, University of Adelaide and international partners have cloned the genes responsible for protecting plants against one of the most damaging diseases, wheat stem rust. The two genes, Sr26 and Sr61 were independently transferred from a wild wheat relative. 40 years after they were initially discovered the researchers showed the genes encode unrelated immune receptors. Both genes have been combined into a small chromosome segment, providing a natural gene stack that enhances their resistance durability.

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Research Springer Nature, Web page

Journal/
conference: Nature Communications

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: CSIRO

Funder: National Science Foundation, Basic Research Enabling Agriculture Development (NSF-BREAD), USA, and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Australia. The first author was supported by the Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Programs (MBBISP), USA, and the Research Training Program (RTP) of the Australian Department of Education and Training.

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