Evaluating for susceptibility to stem rust in irradiated Hordeum vulgare

Abstract

Several pounds of barley seed were irradiated with fast neutrons. Second generation seed following irradiation was planted in Rosemont, Minnesota and inoculated with rust in hopes of finding a naturally resistant plant with signs of susceptibility to stem rust. Phenotypic mutations observed in a number of plants suggest the irradiation was a success but only a limited number of plants became infected with stem rust. Stem rust infected plants were collected and will be analyzed further in hopes of locating one, or possibly more, genes coding for rust resistance in barley.