Genetic diversity of barley landraces from Near East, North Africa and Southern Europe in relation to resistance to powdery mildew

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the resistance to powdery mildew in 218 barley landraces collected in Near East (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Iraq), North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco) and Southern Europe (Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain). Plants with resistant reactions were found in 31 (14%) landraces from which 41 single plant lines were selected. These lines were tested with 20 differential isolates of powdery mildew. Eight (19.5%) lines originated from 7 landraces (5 from Israel, 1 from Syria and 1 from Greece) were resistant to all powdery mildew virulence genes prevalent in Europe. The value of new identified sources of highly effective powdery mildew resistance to breeding programes and barley production was discussed.