Stabilizing selection in Puccinia graminis tritici in Canada

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Abstract
Experiments were designed to show whether or not virulence genes reduce fitness and bring about stabilizing selection. The competitive abilities of seven related races of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici were studied on seedlings of three to five susceptible wheat varieties by growing mixtures of the races in greenhouses, growth cabinets, and field plots. In experiments in which simple races with few virulence genes were mixed with complex races with one, two, or three extra virulence genes, the complex races predominated after 4 to 10 generations in five of the six mixtures, and the simple race predominated in one mixture. A complex race predominated over simple races in the field experiment. It was concluded that virulence genes did not impair the fitness of the wheat stem rust races studied.In one race mixture studied in growth cabinets the complex race predominated at 25 °C, and the simple race, at 15 °C. Temperature did not differentially influence the competitive abilities of the races in three other mixtures.Incubation periods for all races were shorter at higher temperatures, but races C18(15B-1L) and C33(15B-1L) developed faster than races C9(15B-1L), C37(15), C38(15B-1L), C42(15), and C49(15) at all temperatures. In addition, races C18(15B-1L) and C33(15B-1L) produced more urediospores per pustule than races C9(15B-1L), C37(15), and C49(15). The differences in incubation period and spore production are considered to be the most important factors studied and they could cause the differences in aggressiveness of the seven races.

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