Resistance in wheat to a new North American–Russian wheat aphid biotype

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA), is a serious threat to wheat production worldwide. The identification of a new RWA biotype in the USA virulent to all commercially grown winter wheats poses new challenges to wheat breeders. Wheat germplasm was evaluated to identify accessions resistant to the new virulent RWA isolate (biotype 2). Eleven biotype 1‐resistant wheats and one susceptible check were challenged with RWA biotype 2. Two resistant wheat entries were identified (one highly resistant and one moderately resistant). This information is useful to wheat breeders searching for sources of resistance to the new RWA biotype to incorporate into their breeding programmes.