WHEAT stem rust caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) is one of the most devastating WHEAT diseases, worldwide. The race TTKSK (Ug99) and its derived variants are amongst highly virulent Pgt races imposing a serious threat to the global WHEAT production. So far, TTKSK and TTKTK (belonging to Ug99 race group) have been reported from different locations of Iran. Since utilization of resistant cultivars is the most effective, efficient and environmentally safe control method of stem rust, therefore identification of resistance sources includes a high importance in WHEAT breeding programs. Due to wild ancestors used in production of WHEAT SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID (SH) genotypes and also to high genetic diversity in the resulted SHs, new effective sources of resistance is assumed to be found in these genotypes against Ug99 race group of Pgt. For this purpose, resistance of 346 WHEAT SH genotypes as well as two susceptible controls (Morocco and McNair 701) was evaluated against Pgt races TTKSK and TTKTK in a completely randomized block design with three replications under greenhouse conditions. Eight-day old seedlings were inoculated with a mixture of urediniospores in salterol 170 at the step 12 of Zadoks et al. scale, followed by scoring of infection type (IT) of the genotypes at 14 dpi based on the modified method by McIntosh et al. Virulence assays showed that Sr24 and Sr36 are effective resistance genes against both Pgt races. Based on the results of analysis of variance, there was a significant difference and genetic diversity among the WHEAT genotypes to both Pgt races tested. This study demonstarated that 21. 3% of SH WHEAT genotypes tested include different levels of resistance to the races. These genotypes carrying seedling resistance genes could be used in WHEAT breeding programs as effective sources of resistance to Ug99 race group along with the genotypes carrying adult plant resistance genes.

Pureline selection was applied in SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID WHEAT populations (SHW), obtained from irradiated seeds with 150 Gy gamma rays and compared with their corresponding controls. The selection was performed in progenies of 20 initial plants from three amphiploids (8 from SHW32, 4 - SHW106 and 8 - SHW107) generating 19 M1-3 and 19 C2-5 lines. Two families did not survive winter in the first year. All selected lines expressed high germination, intermediate type of growth in winter and good seed set in the field conditions. The irradiation of seeds did not influence the germination and winter survival of the SHW plants. The response to direct selection was based on the mean performance of progenies for grain number and kernel weight per main spike and the selected elite plants in M3 and C4-5 generations. The coefficient of heritability and genetic advance for these traits were highest in SHW106, followed by SHW32. SHW107 displayed the largest morphological variability and sterility during the investigated period. All SYNTHETICs formed long, but sparse ears with seed fertility being lower than their tetraploid parents, but elite plants of SHW32 and 106 were equaled to tetraploid parent No 45432 on grain weight per major spike in 2013. Seed irradiation with 150 Gy gamma rays did not cause any effects on the two investigated traits. The selected subset of 10 lines from the three amphiploids represents a source of spike productivity for use in WHEAT breeding programs to enhance yield potential.

An experiment was conducted to determine the responses of four hexaploied WHEAT cultivars (Ghods, Rassul, Kaveh and Moghan 1) and one derived doubled haploid line (DH19) from Ghods cultivar, to anther culture. The CHB liquid induction medium with two concentrations (90 g/1 and 145 g/1) of two carbohydrate sources (maltose and sucrose) were used. The experimental design was factorial on basis of randomized complete-block design with three replications. The plants were grown in a greenhouse with a photoperiod 16h /8h (day / night) at temperature 25oC /15oC (day / night). Each replication consisted of one pot with three plants. The number of embroys and total plants regeneration as well as the number of green and albino plants regenerated per 100 anthers, were measured. Overall, 15000 anthers were studied and results showed that genotype, induction medium composition and their interactions significantly affected the embryo formation, total, green and albino plants regeneration. Among the culture media and cultivars, 90 g/1 maltose and Moghan 1, respectively, had the highest frequency and the best performance for embryo production, total, green and albino plants regeneration. Also, Moghan 1 cultivar on induction medium of 90 g/1 of maltose, had the best responses for embryo production, and the total, green and albino plant regeneration of 72.47,36.73,22.70 and 14.03%, respectively.

This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the response of genotypes of HEXAPLOID WHEAT to salinity stress during germination and as well as field Performance. In the first experiment, a factorial design treatment on the basis of completely randomized design with three replications was designed. There were two factors in the experiment; WHEAT genotypes in eight levels and the EC of water at four levels i.e. 0,5,10 and 15 ds/m. Petri dishes containing seeds after adding salt solution, were placed in a seed germinator at 20˚C±2. Daily reading of Mean Germinating Time (MGT) and Final Germination (FG) were recorded. At the end of germination, the mean Hypocotyls length (SL), the Root Length (RL) of the highest root and mean root number in each seed (RNO) were noted. The second experiment was carried out in the field plots with three replication. The same eight genotypes of WHEAT were grown and irrigated with irrigation water having EC of 0.76,5 and 10 ds/m in such a way that all the genotypes received all the irrigation treatments. The analysis of variance indicated that during germination period, there was a signigicant differences between the WHEAT genotypes and the EC of irrigation water decreased germination significantly. In the second experiment, there was an interaction between the genotypes and the EC of the irrigation water and all the characters measured with exception of RNO were signigicantly decreased as a result of increasing salinity. However the ratio of shoot weight to root weight was increased. The ANOVA also indicated that the interaction between the year and genotypes was significant for the grain yield. Increasing the salinity of irrigation water decreased the grain yield, however not the number of grains per plant spike.

To enhance germplasms of bread WHEAT, a gene, encoding the smallest y-type High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunit (HMW GS) gene (12.4t) from the D-genome using SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID approach was introgressed into bread WHEAT. Tetraploid WHEAT (T. turgidum cv. Langdon) was crossed with T.tauschii accession, AUS24092. Immature embryos were rescued and placed onto Bs regeneration media. Hybrid F1 plants (ABD) were treated with colchicine. SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID L/24092 was isolated and used in further crossing programs. Bread WHEAT cvs Baxter and Sunvale were crossed with SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID L/24092. Doubled haploid lines were produced using Fl seeds and phenotyped for the presence of the HMW GS Dy12.4t protein, using SDSPAGE of polymeric proteins. The doubled haploid lines were divided into 17 groups with different combinations of HMW GS, with and without the HMW GS (Dy12.4t) protein for functional studies. This research is a valuable step in evaluation and determination of quality characteristics of WHEAT flour considering storage proteins.

To study the response of 180 genotypes of HEXAPLOID WHEAT to terminal drought stress for grain yield and baking quality properties, a field experiment was conducted at reasearch field station of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran in 2005-2006 cropping season. Genotypes were planted in two separated experiments simulating nonstress and stress (applied trom anthesis to physiologic maturity) conditions using an unreplicated systematic experimental design. FollowingIdentification and classification of genotypes in three groups: tolerant genotypes with reasonable yield potential (group A of Fernandez), genotypes with reasonable yield potential and susceptible to drought stress (group B of Fernandez) and moderately tolerant genotypes, genotypes of these three groups were evaluated for baking quality properties. Results of this experiments showed the theory of "improving bread quality properties of bread WHEAT under stress conditions" is only applicable to susceptible genotypes and to some extents to moderately tolerant genotypes, due mainly to increased grain protein content followed by reduction of 1000 grain weight in stress conditions. This theory is not relevant to drought tolerant genotypes, because in these genotypes no considerable change in proportion of protein content 10 carbohydrates was observed, under stress conditions. The results of this study suggested that identification and selection of genotypess with high grain yield and desirable baking quality properties under non- stress and stress conditions practicable. In this study 7 drought tolerant genotypes with good baking quality were identified in both non-stress and stress conditions. Although susceptible genotypes may gain better baking quality properties under stress conditions, but this is usually compensated by yield penalty.

in this study, to determine polymorphism of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in 8 tetraploid and 32 HEXAPLOID landraces were studied. Glutenin was extracted by sequential extraction procedure and electrophoresis was carried out using two-step one dimensional SDS-PAGE with 15 percent acrylamide gels. At Glu-1 locus, in HEXAPLOID WHEATs, the null, 7+8 and 2+12 alleles had the highest frequencies of 0.73, 0.45 and 0.47, respectively, and the subunits of null and 14+15 were predominantly observed with 0.75 and 0.50 frequency, respectively in durum WHEATs. The HEXAPLOID and tetraploid WHEAT landraces divided into 21 and 6 groups, respectively based on allelic compositions. The Glu-1 loci quality score ranged from 4-10 in HEXAPLOID and 3-6 in tetraploid WHEATs. The results of this research can be used in breeding programs in order to improve the quality of WHEAT.

To identify and characterize bread WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes adapted to terminal water deficit conditions, 51 superior HEXAPLOID WHEAT genotypes together with commercial check cultivars were studied, in a two stages screening practice, for drought tolerance in Karaj, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Neishabour and Varamin filed stations under terminal water deficit conditions in 2002-2005 growing seasons. At the first stage grain yield was the main criteria for screening, but several other traits including 1000 grain weight, number of tillers m-2, number of grains spike-1, spike and peduncle length were also measured. Glaucousness of leaves and stems (covered by grayish or bluish waxy coating) was assessed and recorded, two week after anthesis, in the second step. Results of the first step revealed 16 genotypes as superior as compared to the checks. In the second stage of evaluation 10 genotypes with grain yield of equal to or greater than 6 t ha-1 were identified where cv. Pishtaz had 5.7 t ha-1. Water productivity for some of the superior genotypes identified in the second stage was also measured in a separate experiment. The best genotype with good grain yield stability and high grain weight was WS-82-9 which also showed higher water productivity and is morphologically characterized between irrigated and rainfed adapted cultivars. This genotype had glaucousness on its leaves, in grain filling stage, which is a positive characteristic for tolerance to terminal moisture. It is concluded that growing of such cultivars with intermediate features (between rainfed and irrigated adapted cultivars), the yield gap between rainfed and irrigated WHEAT, to some extent, reduces and leads to enhancement of the average WHEAT grain yield in terminal drought prone areas.