Large-Scale Genomic Analysis of Stripe Rust Resistance in Chinese Wheat Germplasm Using Multi-Environment Trial Data

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), a significant disease affecting global wheat crops, causing substantial economic losses. This study aimed to identify effective resistance genes by evaluating 120 common wheat accessions from diverse regions in China. These samples were tested with three Pst races at the seedling stage and with natural Pst inoculum at four field locations in three crop seasons. Genotypic data were collected through a wheat 55K iSelect SNP array. The genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) identified 17 distinct loci linked to stripe rust response, accounting for 1.07 to 30.58% of the phenotypic variation across trials. These loci were distributed among three wheat genome groups: two in Group A, ten in Group B, and five in Group D. Among these, eight loci overlapped with the reported stripe rust resistance genes or QTL, while nine loci were novel and mainly distributed on chromosomes 2A, 6B, and 7D. This research enhances the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying wheat stripe rust resistance and provides valuable germplasm resources for breeding new cultivars with enhanced disease resilience.