Fifty five wheat lines / cultivars were seedling evaluated against eight pathotypes of stem rust (Pueeinia graminis f. sp. tritiei). Seven 5r genes (5r2, 5r5, 5r7b, 5rBa, 5r9b, 5r11 and 5(31) were characterized in fifty one lines/ cultivars singly or in combination with each other. Resistance to stem rust in 24 lines was largely dependent on 5r31 followed by 5r2, 5r11, 5r9b, 5rBa, 5r5 and 5r7b either singly or in combina
