Virulence and race structure of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici in Kazakhstan

Severe epidemics of wheat stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) have been observed in recent years in major spring wheat producing regions in Kazakhstan. However, information on the virulence structure and race composition of Pgt is currently not available. Stem rust samples were collected in 2015-2018 in three regions of Kazakhstan to determine the virulence diversity and race distribution in the Pgt populations. A total of 203 single-pustule isolates were derived and evaluated on the stem rust differential and supplemental lines and 38 races were identified. Among them, the races QHHSF and THMTF were found in all the regions and in all the years. The races RFRTF, RHMRF, TKRPF and MHCTC were the most common races in the Akmola and Kostanay regions, and the races LHCSF, QKCSF and LKCSF were only widely distributed in East Kazakhstan. The virulence complexity (i.e., number of Sr genes on which the races were virulent) ranged from 5 to 16, with about 40% of the races having 14 or more virulence. The stem rust resistance genes Sr11, Sr13, Sr22, Sr26, Sr31, Sr33 and Sr35 were found to confer resistance to all the races identified during the study period. Hence, these genes can be used as sources of resistance in wheat breeding programmes in Kazakhstan.