2010 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The primary objective is to help facilitate enhancement of U.S. wheat cultivars by supporting movement of genes with effective stem rust resistance to new Pgt races into elite wheat germplasm. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Marker assisted selection will be used to enhance the movement of effective stem rust resistance genes into advanced breeding lines of wheat. 3.Progress Report The majority of wheat in the United States is susceptible to a group of new African races (Ug99) of the stem rust pathogen, Puccinia graminis. Breeding lines were screened in international cooperative nurseries in Kenya. Two stem rust screening nurseries were established in Louisiana to screen new breeding lines with naturally occurring races of wheat stem rust pathogen. Crosses were made to incorporate resistance genes known to be effective against Ug99 into adapted wheat germplasm. Selected breeding lines were screened using available molecular markers to determine the presence of specific wheat stem rust resistance genes through regional wheat genotyping facilities. Regular e-mails, conference calls and meetings were used to monitor progress of this project.