Dominant gene for rust resistance in pearl millet

Rust (Puccinia substriata var. Indica) resistance was discovered in three Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke subspecies monodll (Maire) Brunken accessions from Senegal. Resistant plants were free of rust, although the bottom one or two leaves of some plants did develop a brown discoloration without pustules. Resistance was controlled by a dominant gene assigned the gene symbol Rr1. Backcrossing has been effective in transferring resistance from the wild grassy, monodil to cultivated pearl millet. The Rr1 gene should be useful in the production of rust resistant pearl millet hybrids and cultivars.