Thinopyrum ponticum and Th. intermedium: the promising source of resistance to fungal and viral diseases of wheat

Thinopyrum ponticum and Th. intermedium provide superior resistance against various diseases in wheat (Ttricum aestivum). Because of their readily crossing with wheat, many genes for disease resistance have been introduced from the wheatgrasses into wheat. Genes for resistance to leaf rust, stem rust, powdery mildew, Barley yellow dwarf virus, Wheat streak mosaic virus, and its vector, the wheat curl mite, have been transferred into wheat by producing chromosome translocations. These genes offer an opportunity to improve resistance of wheat to the diseases; some of them have been extensively used in protecting wheat from damage of the diseases. Moreover, new resistance to diseases is continuously detected in the progenies of wheat-Thinopyrum derivatives. The present article summaries characterization and application of the genes for fungal and viral disease-resistance derived from Th. ponticum and Th. intermedium.