Some of the many disease-resistance genes transferred into common whea
t (Triticum aestivum L.) by interspecific hybridization have been unde
rutilized in agriculture because of associated negative effects on pro
ductivity and end-use quality. The Lr41 gene conferring resistance to
leaf rust (caused by Puccinia recondita Rob. ex Desm.) was transferred
from the wild diploid goatgrass [Triticum tauschii (Coss.) Schmal], t
he chromosomes of which recombine readily with those of common wheat (
Fritz et al., 1995a). Thus its chromosomes recombine readily with thos
e of wheat. This study had three objectives: (i) to determine the dire
ct and linked effects of Lr41 on 15 productivity and quality traits in
hard red winter wheat under disease-free conditions; (ii) to determin
e the effects of resistance conferred by Lr41 under a severe leaf rust
epidemic and under a light infection; and (iii) to determine the amou
nt of damage inflicted by diseases other than leaf rust in those envir
onments. Six BC2F2-derived common wheat lines with Lr41, along with th
eir recurrent parents (hard red winter wheat cultivars TAM 107, TAM 20
0, and Century), were evaluated in three field experiments with and wi
thout fungicide treatment in 1992 and 1994. Lr41 increased grain yield
and milling quality under heavy leaf rust infection with no negative
effects on those traits in disease-free plots. However, Lr41 was assoc
iated with reduced bake-mixing time and water absorption in the absenc
e of disease. Effects of other diseases depended heavily upon the gene
tic backgrounds (i.e., recurrent parents) of backcross lines. There sh
ould be no serious impediments to the use of Lr41 in breeding programs
.