An international team of researchers from the University of Sydney,
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), John
Innes Centre, Limagrain UK, and the National Institute of Agricultural
Botany (NIAB) has isolated the first major resistance genes against stripe
rust, a disease devastating wheat crops worldwide.

The scientists cloned three related rust resistance genes called Yr7, Yr5,
and YrSP and now have a thorough understanding of the gene structure and the
relationships between the three. They said this research was a major
contribution to the understanding of the immune receptor protein class of
resistance genes in wheat. Despite very similar gene structure, each gene
confers a distinct and unique recognition specificity to the stripe rust
pathogen.



The characterization of these genes was made possible through improved
technology and the collaboration from Australia and UK.

[sydney.edu.au]
0-year-wheat-rust-puzzle.html