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IN VITRO SCREENING OF SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID WHEAT LINES AGAINST BIPOLARIS SOROKINIANA IN PAKISTAN

SHAMIM IFTIKHAR, SHAHZAD ASAD, ABDUL MUJEEB KAZI^* AND IFTIKHAR AHMAD^**

Abstract: Leaf blight caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Cochliobolus sativus) is a world wide economically important foliar disease of wheat. Leaf blight or Spot blotch mainly occurs in warm, humid wheat growing areas. In Pakistan Helminthosporium leaf spots (spot blotch) has been noted in different agro-ecological wheat production zones especially where winter temperatures are warmer. Bipolaris sorokiniana was identified as predominant pathogen of leaf spot in wheat growing areas of Pakistan during 2003 - 2006. Out of 87 isolates collected from different agro-ecological zones of wheat producing areas, the most aggressive isolate P2 -9 was used to screen the synthetic hexaploid elite I, elite II from Aegilops tauschii (2n=2x=14, 44) accessions and durum parents (Triticum turgidum) (2n=4x=28, AABB) by In vitro technique. Out of 93 accessions of Elite I, none of them was found resistant or moderately resistant in foliar symptoms. Nine out of 32 accessions of synthetic hexaploid (Elite II) and 3 accessions of total 51 durum parents were found moderate resistant to B. sorokiniana in two years of In vitro study. Total 16 lines of synthetic hexaploid elite 11 and 12 lines of Durum parents having moderately resistance and moderately susceptibility may further be exploited in breeding program.

Crop Diseases Research Program, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad-45500, Pakistan

^*Project Director Wheat Wide Crosses, NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan

^**Director General, NARC, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan.