Validation of molecular markers for wheat breeding

Five sets of markers were assessed for their usefulness in breeding, two li nked to wheat stem rust gene Sr2, several markers linked to a chromosome se gment conferring Yr17/Lr37/Sr38 resistance, two reported markers for the li nked genes Lr35 and Sr39, one for Lr28, and one linked to flour colour. The gene for Sr2 confers adult plant resistance to stem rust (Puccinia gramini s f. sp. tritici) and was originally transferred to bread wheat from the te traploid emmer ('Yaroslav') to the cultivars Hope and H-44. The gene is loc ated on the short arm of chromosome 3B and confers a durable adult plant re sistance to stem rust usually expressed only in the field. The chromosome s egment carrying the Lr37, Sr38, Yr17 resistance genes is located on 2AS and was originally introduced into wheat through an Aegilops ventricosa x Trit icum persicum cross, followed by a cross to the cultivar Marne (VPM1). The flour colour quantitative trait locus was originally described in a Yarrali nka x Schomburg cross and is located on chromosome 7A. The primers as origi nally developed required optimisation for more routine use in a breeding pr ogram.