Identification of Rmg11 in Tetraploid Wheat as a New Blast Resistance Gene with Tolerance to High Temperature

Wheat blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae pathotype Triticum has spread to Asia (Bangladesh) and Africa (Zambia) from the endemic region of South America. Wheat varieties with durable resistance are needed, but very limited resistance resources are currently available. After screening tetraploid wheat accessions, we found an exceptional accession St19 (Triticum dicoccum, KU-114). Primary leaves of St19 were resistant not only to Brazilian isolate Br48 (a carrier of Type eI of AVR-Rmg8) but also to Br48ΔA8, an AVR-Rmg8 disruptant of Br48, even at 30°C, suggesting that the resistance of St19 is tolerant to high temperature and controlled by a gene or genes other than Rmg8. When an F₂ population derived from a cross between St19 and St30 (a susceptible accession of T. paleocolchicum, KU-191) was inoculated with Br48, resistant and susceptible seedlings segregated in a 3:1 ratio, indicating that resistance of St19 is conferred by a single gene. We designated this gene Rmg11. Molecular mapping revealed that the RMG11 locus is located on the short arm of chromosome 7A. Rmg11 is effective not only against other two Brazilian isolates (Br5 and Br116.5) but also against Bangladeshi isolates (T-108 and T-109) at the seedling stage. At the heading stage, lines containing Rmg11 were highly susceptible to the Bangladeshi isolates but moderately resistant to the Brazilian isolates. Stacking of Rmg11 with Rmg8 and the 2NS segment is highly recommended to achieve durable wheat blast resistance.