Phenotypic and Molecular Assessment of Wheat Genotypes Tolerant to Leaf Blight, Rust and Blast Diseases
- Md. Ashraful Alam1, Milan Skalicky2, Muhammad Rezaul Kabir1, Md. Monwar Hossain1, Md. Abdul Hakim1, Md. Siddikun Nabi Mandal1, Rabiul Islam3, Md. Babul Anwar3, Akbar Hossain1,*, Fahmy Hassan4, Amaal Mohammadein4, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal5, Marian Brestic2,6, Mohammad Anwar Hossain7, Khalid Rehman Hakeem8, Ayman EL Sabagh9,*
1
Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI), Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh
2 Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague, 16500, Czechia
3 Regional Agricultural Research Station, BWMRI, Jashore, 7400, Bangladesh
4 Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
5 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Hajira Road, Shamsabad, 12350, Pakistan
6 Department of Plant Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, Nitra, 94901, Slovak Republic
7 Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh
8 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
9 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
* Corresponding Authors: Akbar Hossain. Email:
; Ayman EL Sabagh. Email: 
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Plant Ecophysiology: Recent Trends and Advancements)
2 Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague, 16500, Czechia
3 Regional Agricultural Research Station, BWMRI, Jashore, 7400, Bangladesh
4 Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
5 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Hajira Road, Shamsabad, 12350, Pakistan
6 Department of Plant Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, Nitra, 94901, Slovak Republic
7 Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh
8 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
9 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
* Corresponding Authors: Akbar Hossain. Email:
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Plant Ecophysiology: Recent Trends and Advancements)
Received 31 January 2021; Accepted 06 April 2021; Issue published 27 April 2021
Abstract
Globally among biotic stresses, diseases like blight, rust and blast constitute prime constraints for reducing wheat
productivity especially in Bangladesh. For sustainable productivity, the development of disease-resistant lines and
high yielding varieties is vital and necessary. This study was conducted using 122 advanced breeding lines of
wheat including 21 varieties developed by Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BAMRI) with aims
to identify genotypes having high yield potential and resistance to leaf blight, leaf rust and blast diseases. These
genotypes were evaluated for resistance against leaf blight and leaf rust at Dinajpur and wheat blast at Jashore
under field condition. Out of 122 genotypes tested, 20 lines were selected as resistant to leaf blight based on
the area under the diseases progress curve (AUDPC) under both irrigated timely sown (ITS) and irrigated late
sown (ILS) conditions. Forty-two genotypes were found completely free from leaf rust infection, 59 genotypes
were identified as resistant, and 13 genotypes were identified as moderately resistant to leaf rust. Eighteen genotypes were immune against wheat blast, 42 genotypes were categorized as resistant, and 26 genotypes were identified as moderately resistant to wheat blast. Molecular data revealed that the 16 genotypes showed a positive 2NS
segment among the 18 immune genotypes selected against wheat blast under field conditions. The genotypes
BAW 1322, BAW 1295, and BAW 1203 can be used as earlier maturing genotypes and the genotypes BAW
1372, BAW 1373, BAW 1297 and BAW 1364 can be used for lodging tolerant due to short plant height. The genotypes WMRI Gom 1, BAW 1349 and BAW 1350 can be selected for bold grain and the genotypes WMRI Gom 1,
BAW 1297, BAW 1377 can be used as high yielder for optimum seeding condition but genotypes BAW 1377
and BAW 1366 can be used for late sown condition. The selected resistant genotypes against specific diseases can be used in the further breeding program to develop wheat varieties having higher disease resistance and
yield potential.
Keywords
Wheat blast; leaf blight; leaf rust; 2NS marker; grain yield
Cite This Article
Alam, M. A., Skalicky, M., Kabir, M. R., Hossain, M. M., Hakim, M. A. et al. (2021). Phenotypic and Molecular Assessment of Wheat Genotypes Tolerant to Leaf Blight, Rust and Blast Diseases. Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, 90(4), 1301–1320.
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