Performance of durum wheat lines for quality and rust resistance

Abstract

Stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici) and leaf rust
(Puccinia triticina Rob. ex. Desm.) are the major constraints
in wheat production in the peninsular zone. A number of
wheat varieties cultivated in the past, became susceptible
to rust, after a few years of cultivation. Traditionally wheat
improvement aims at three major aspects viz. grain yield,
disease resistance and quality. The effect of disease on yield
and its components in general has been adequately studied
(Mundy 1973, Knott 1989). However, there is still ample
scope to study its interaction with physiology and quality
in wheat. Allard (1960) suggested that early generation
selection should be restricted to highly heritable traits such
as disease resistance and plant height and that the traits
showing low heritability should be evaluated only in those
lines that survive this screening. Such a pedigree breeding
system involves the retention of lines of unknown grain yield
potential until a degree of homozygosity is attained (F5 or
F6). In view of the severeness of the rust diseases, as well as
the necessity to improve the quality of wheat, an attempt has
been made to combine rust resistance and quality attributes
in durum wheat.