First Report of Virulence in Argentine Populations of Puccinia sorghi to Rp Resistance Genes in Corn.

Common rust (Puccinia sorghi) is a chronic disease of corn (Zea mays L.) in Argentina. Factors contributing to the disease include relatively susceptible germ plasm, planting late in the season, and variability within populations of P. sorghi. Several genes for race-specific resistance to common rust (i.e., Rp genes) were identified based on virulence in populations of P. sorghi in the United States (1). The objective of this research was to examine the virulence of Argentine populations of P. sorghi against 24 alleles at four Rp loci that condition race-specific resistance to common rust. Rp genes in an R168-inbred background were planted in trials at two locations in the central corn belt of Argentina. In the 1996-97, 1997-98, and 1999-2000 seasons, trials were planted in Pergamino (Province of Buenos Aires). In the 1998-99 season, the trial was planted in Zavalla (Province of Santa Fe). Plants were exposed to naturally occurring local populations of P. sorghi. About 3 to 4 weeks after anthesis, rust severity (percentage of leaf tissue with uredinia) and infection type were rated for all plants. Four categories of infection type were: 1-no rust, necrotic or chlorotic flecks, 2-small uredinia with or without necrotic flecks, 3-large uredinia, and 4-large uredinia with banding. Three lines with Rp genes (Rp1-N, Rp3-A, and Rp3-C) had infection type 1 with necrotic flecks and severity of 0%. Lines with other Rp genes (Rp1-A, Rp1-B, Rp1-C, Rp1-D, Rp1-E, Rp1-F, Rp1-G, Rp1-H, Rp1-I, Rp1-J, Rp1-K, Rp1-M, Rp1-N, Rp3-A, Rp3-B, Rp3-C, Rp3-D, Rp3-E, Rp4-A, Rp4-B, and Rp5) had infection types 2 to 4 and severity ranged from 5 to 35%. Severity was affected by the virulence of the populations and the environmental conditions in each trial. These results are evidence of a wide spectrum of virulence in P. sorghi populations in Argentina. Reference: (1) W. Hagan and A. Hooker. Phytopathology 55:193, 1965.