Researches on Powdery Mildew Resistant Genes and Their Molecular Markers in Wheat

Powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe graminis DM f. sp. tritici (Em. Marchal), is one of the most important diseases of common wheat world-wide. Growing resistant cultivars has proved to be an economical and effective approach to control this disease. Molecular markers have been widely used in the studies on (powdery) mildew resistance genes in wheat. Up to now, 31 gene loci (Pm1-Pm31) for resistance to (powdery) mildew have been identified and located on different chromosomes, of which 25 alleles from 20 loci were (successfully) tagged or mapped. The chromosomal location, the sources, evaluation and (utilization), and (molecular) markers of wheat (powdery) mildew resistant genes were reviewed in this paper. At the same time, (application) of molecular markers on breeding for disease resistance was discussed.