2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) a) Introgress BYDV and CYDV resistance from wheatgrass into soft winter wheat and from wild oat (Avena strigosa) into cultivated spring oat (Avena sativa) using our recently developed resistant wheat and oat lines as donor parents and selection utilizing PCR, ELISA, field testing, DNA markers, and cytology. b) Identify additional molecular markers including SNP, RAF and SSR associated with resistance genes for important diseases and pests that would include barley yellow dwarf virus and cereal yellow dwarf virus, Stagonospora nodorum, Septoria tritici, and Fusarium graminearum. c) Utilize RIL populations that have been developed and phenotypically characterized to identify and validate DNA markers. d) Utilize highly backcrossed populations, some of which are developed, and phenotypically characterize these populations as a source of genetic material to identify and characterize genes that potentially involved in resistance to B/CYDV. This will lead to a greater understanding of viral and fungal resistance mechanisms. e) Utilize existing and new DNA markers to pyramid resistance genes into enhanced germplasm lines. During the course of breeding for improved disease resistance in wheat and oat Purdue University generates a number of genetic populations and lines that will greatly enhance the identification of genes that may play a role in disease resistance and/or susceptibility. This genetic material and the lines ARS generates will be instrumental in completing and enhancing useful DNA markers for improvement of viral and fungal resistance. This project will produce a set of genes and DNA markers that are linked to BYDV and fungal resistance/tolerance loci, a set of populations that are well characterized phenotypically and molecularly from which lines can be identified that will be very useful in the Cooperative USDA-Purdue University Small Grains program. Additional funds and time are necessary to develop these lines and breeding tools and resistance information to a point where they can be used by the farmer and other plant breeders worldwide. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Utilize conventional molecular genetics and plant breeding methodologies with DNA technologies including DNA markers like RAF and SSRs, high throughput sequencing and microarray analyses to increase host resistance in soft red winter wheat to an array of pathogens and pests. 3.Progress Report The objective of this collaborative work is to develop improved oat germplasm by introgressing resistance to Yellow dwarf virus (YDV), crown rust (CR) and stem rust (SR), from the Avena strigosa Accession 6688. This material has now undergone the third backcross to elite oat lines and families exhibiting excellent agronomic characteristics as well as resistance to all three pathogens have been recovered. Progeny of these plants will be inoculated with local isolates of Puccinia coronata and P. graminis avenae for CR and SR resistance in controlled tests in a greenhouse in fall 2011 to confirm field tests. Selected progeny lines will be grown in 1-m long rows in the field in 2012 and selected lines will be entered into performance tests in 2013. The ADODR monitoring of this project is accomplished through frequent face-to-face meetings with the collaborator.