The Inheritance of Rust Resistance. Vi. The Transfer of Stem Rust Resistance From Agropyron Elongatum to Common Wheat

The rust resistance of a 56-chromosome wheat-Agropyron derivative was found to be controlled by a gene or genes on a single Agropyron chromosome. Resistant wheat plants having 21II of wheat chromosomes plus a single added Agropyron chromosome were produced. Spikes of these plants were irradiated with either gamma rays or X-rays and seeds were irradiated with thermal neutrons. As a result of the irradiation, in at least five lines and possibly seven a piece of the Agropyron chromosome carrying the gene or genes for rust resistance was transferred to a wheat chromosome. One of the translocations is transmitted normally through the gametes but the remaining six show irregularities in transmission particularly through the pollen.