Deriving isolates of powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis DC. f.sp. avenae Em. Marchal.) in common oat (Avena sativa L.) and using them to identify selected resistance genes

Abstract

Powdery mildew in common oat is caused by Blumeria graminis DC. f.sp. avenae Em. Marchal. Host-pathogen tests are commonly used to identify and locate resistance genes to powdery mildew in cereals. The aim of the study was to determine the virulence of powdery mildew isolates obtained from powdery mildew populations harvested in Poland and to identify OMR1, OMR2 and OMR3 resistance genes to powdery mildew in F₂ populations of inter-cultivar hybrids of common oat: Bruno × Fuchs, Jumbo × Fuchs and Mostyn × Fuchs. On the basis of the analysis conducted, isolates enabling division of the studied populations into groups of resistant and susceptible plants were selected. M10 and M14 isolates were chosen for the population which was obtained from crossbreeding of ‘Bruno’ with ‘Fuchs’; these isolates demonstrated avirulence to Bruno cultivar containing OMR1 gene. In order to divide population obtained from crossbreeding of ‘Jumbo’ with ‘Fuchs’, M13 and M16 isolates were chosen; they demonstrated avirulence to the cultivar Jumbo containing the OMR2 gene. On the basis of the tests conducted, it was impossible to select isolates characterised by avirulence to the OMR3 gene. In the F2 population of Bruno × Fuchs and Jumbo × Fuchs hybrids, a division was made into resistant and susceptible plants. The obtained results were verified by the ² test; the proportion in the dispersion matching model was found to be 3 resistant plants: 1 sensitive plant both in the Bruno × Fuchs and Jumbo × Fuchs populations. Such dispersion indicated that the resistance to powdery mildew in the studied cultivars Bruno and Jumbo was conditioned by single dominant genes.