Inheritance of resistance to powdery mildew in flax

Abstract

Powdery mildew, caused by Oidium lini, is an important disease of flax (Linum usitatissimum) in western Canada. Investigations on the genetics of resistance to powdery mildew in flax resulted in the identification of several resistant Canadian and introduced cultivars. A single dominant gene for resistance to powdery mildew, designated PM1, was identified in Canadian flax cultivars (‘AC Watson’, ‘AC McDuff’, and ‘AC Emerson’) and introduced flax cultivars (‘Atalante’ and ‘Linda’). In addition, two putative dominant genes for resistance to powdery mildew were identified in ‘Linda’.