THE INHERITANCE OF LOOSE SMUT RESISTANCE.: I. THE INHERITANCE OF RESISTANCE IN FOUR BARLEY VARIETIES IMMUNE TO RACE 2 OF LOOSE SMUT

Abstract

Four barley varieties, each immune to a Valki-attacking culture of loose smut (designated as race 2), were studied with respect to the inheritance of their resistance. Jet (C.I. 967) and Nigrinudum (C.I. 2222) were each found to possess two independent dominant genes determining resistance. Steudelli (C.I. 2266) proved to be immune to race 2 through the action of a single dominant gene, while resistance of Hillsa (C.I. 1604) was found to be conditioned by two complementary dominant genes. The absence of susceptible F₃ families in crosses between Jet, Nigrinudum, and Steudelli indicated that these three varieties have in common a gene or genes for resistance to the race of smut used. The two complementary genes for resistance in Hillsa proved to be distinct from those of the other three varieties under study.The use of genetic analyses of disease resistance based upon classification of F₃ families of the backcross to the resistant source is described and the merits of such a method are discussed.