Genomics-guided landscape unlocks superior alleles and genes for yellow rust resistance in wheat

Yellow rust (YR), caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), poses a significant threat to wheat production worldwide. Breeding resistant cultivar is crucial for managing this disease. However, understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying YR resistance remains fragmented. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive analysis with variome data from 2,191 wheat accessions worldwide and over 47,000 YR response records across multiple environments and pathogen races. Through genome-wide association studies, we established a landscape for 431 YR resistance loci, providing a rich resource for resistance (R) gene deployment. Furthermore, we cloned genes corresponding to three resistance loci, namely Yr5x effective against multiple Pst races, Yr6/Pm5 that conferred resistance to two pathogen species, and YrKB (TaEDR2-B) conferring broad-spectrum rust resistance without yield penalty. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic basis of YR resistance in wheat and lay the foundation for engineering wheat with durable disease resistance.