Pleiotropic adult plant resistance (PAPR) to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), leaf rust (P. triticina), stem rust (P. graminis f. sp. tritici) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) was characterized in Egyptian spring wheat. Fifty cultivars were screened based on average coefficient of infection (ACI), phenotypic (LTN1, LTN2, PBC) and molecular markers linked to PAPR genes, Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38, Lr46/Yr29/Sr58/Pm39, and Sr2/Yr30/Lr27. Levels of PAPR (low, moderate, high) were associated with the presence of phenotypes and PAPR genes in 18 cultivars. Of them, 14 cultivars possessed Lr46/Yr29/Sr58/Pm39, i.e. Misr-1, Misr-2, Sakha-93, Giza-156, Giza-168, Giza-171, Gemmeiza-9, Gemmeiza-10, Gemmeiza-11, Sids-13, Sids-14, Sandweel-1, Beniswef-1, and Beniswef-4, while both genes Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38 and Sr2/Yr30/Lr27 were present in three cultivars each, i.e. Sakha-8, Sakha-94, Sids-13 (Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38); Misr-1, Misr-2 and Giza-168 (Sr2/Yr30/Lr27). Egyptian cultivars were first demonstrated to possess phenotypic markers and PAPR genes individually or in combination which would be a good source to facilitate future wheat breeding for pleiotropic resistance.
