Resistance to Puccinia triticina at different stages of wheat

Ten wheat genotypes were tested for resistance characteristics to Puccinia triticina. Infection intensity in the field was evaluated at different growth stages, and time of spike appearance and leaf senescence were recorded. At seedling stage, under the controlled conditions of greenhouse, latency period, infection frequency and reaction type were determined. Resistance characteristics at different wheat growth stages were strongly correlated. Correlation coefficient between LP x RT x IF and AUDPC values, was 0.828. The highest coefficients of correlation between particular resistance characteristics and maximal intensity in the field were determined with the last evaluation in the field (0.665, 0.476 and 0.834). Time of spike appearance was very variable for different genotypes, whereas leaf senescence was recorded concomitantly for near all genotypes. The exception was Rusalka, as the most resistant in the field. All genotypes included in this three-year long experiment expressed stability with respect to infection intensity at different growth stages. Genotype Timson showed the highest level of resistance according to all tested characteristics, while genotype Pkb krupna showed the lowest