CWRS Wheat: Leaf Rust Resistance Gene Prevalence 1939–2024

From 1939 to 2024, this dataset tracks the presence and frequency of five key leaf rust resistance genes (Lr2a, Lr14a, Lr16, Lr21, Lr34) in Canada Western Red Spring wheat cultivars. It likely contains genotyping results from molecular markers applied to cultivars grown on a significant area, showing how genetic resistance has evolved over decades. The analysis demonstrates how breeding practices have led to more complex gene combinations for better crop protection.

Use Cases

• Tracking historical shifts in resistance gene frequency based on cultivar adoption data.
• Analyzing the impact of specific cultivars (e.g., Thatcher, Selkirk) on gene distribution over time.
• Informing modern wheat breeding programs by identifying successful historical gene combinations.
• Studying the temporal dynamics of multi-pest resistance gene Lr34 in a major wheat class.

Strengths

• Covers a long temporal range, from the 1930s to 2024, allowing for analysis of multi-decade trends.
• Focuses on a specific, economically important wheat class (Canada Western Red Spring) and five well-defined resistance genes.
• Data is derived from genotyping with highly predictive molecular markers, suggesting a reliable measurement method.

Limitations

• The exact column structure and row count are unknown, limiting precise understanding of the data's granularity.
• The dataset size is given as 1472280 bytes, but its composition (e.g., number of records, variables) is not detailed.
• Relies on inferred data types and structure from descriptions rather than explicit metadata.

Provenance

Source

BRENT D. McCALLUM

Collection Method

Genotyping of cultivars using highly predictive molecular markers for specific resistance genes.

Time Range

1939–2024

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-03-20.

Geography

Canada, specifically the Canada Western Red Spring wheat-growing region.