A single NLR gene confers resistance to both leaf and stripe rust in wheat (RNA-Seq)

Nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NLR) disease resistance genes typically confer resistance against races of a single pathogen. We report on Lr/Yr548, a new NLR gene that is unique to the wheat wild relatives Aegilops sharonensis and Ae. longissima and confers specific resistance against both Puccinia triticina (Pt) and P. striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) that cause leaf and stripe rust, respectively. The Lr/Yr548 gene prevented disease development in introgression lines as well as transgenic wheat lines in seedlings and adult plants. For isolation of the gene from Ae. sharonensis, we used wheat introgression lines and a combination of MutChromSeq and RNAseq approach. The RNA was extracted from leaf samples and sequenced on a Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform.