Biotic Stress Resistance in Wheat - Breeding and Genomic Selection Implications

Leaf and stem rust are among the most important diseases in wheat. The selection of wheat genotypes with combination of non-race-specific genes defining durable resistance over years as well as race specific genes at seedling stage is a task of high importance for breeding programs. Gene pyramiding using conventional method is difficult and time-consuming because it requires simultaneous tests of the same wheat breeding materials with several different rust races before making selection. DNA-based molecular markers have several advantages over the traditional phenotype trait selection. Molecular markers can be used to tag rust resistance genes and further to be used in improvement the efficiency of selection in plant breeding by marker-assisted selection (MAS). MAS is a powerful alternative to facilitate new gene deployment and gene pyramiding for quick release of rust-resistant cultivars. An approach called "genomic selection" and based on the widespread conventional selection with the use of information of the molecular markers will facilitate breeding programmes by providing effective achievement of biotic stress resistance reducing in mean time generation interval and investments in ecological-friendly crop production is reviewed.