Microsatellite markers linked to stem rust resistance allele Sr9a in wheat

Host resistance to stem rust of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), caused by Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn., is more effective and durable when several stem rust resistance (Sr) genes are pyramided into a single line. We studied the Sr9a allele, one of six known alleles at the Sr9 locus on chromosome 2BL, using 116 F-2 plants and their F-2:3 families derived from the cross of near-isogenic lines (NILs) 'Chinese Spring' and ISr9a-Ra. Four microsatellite markers were identified that mapped within 3.6 cM proximal to the Sr9a locus. Fifty-nine wheat accessions were screened with the three codominant and one dominant markers to determine their polymorphism information content (PIC). The marker Xgwm47 revealed 12 alleles and had the highest PIC value of 0.85. We attempted to postulate the presence of Sr9a by phenotypic screening. In accessions that had multiple Sr genes, however, it was not possible to postulate Sr9a due to masking effects. Despite the ambiguity of phenotypic evaluation, Xgwm47 was diagnostic for Sr9a in additional NILs tested. These results suggest that Xgwm47 will be a useful tool for marker-assisted selection of Sr9a in wheat breeding programs.