2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Using genomics tools to:. 1)screen agronomically important wheat traits in hard winter wheat from five breeding programs in southern Great Plains using available molecular markers,. 2)speed up process of incorporation of important genes into commercial wheat cultivars and shorten cultivar development, and. 3)identify QTL for important wheat traits and associated markers for marker-assisted selection. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Use of high throughput molecular marker technology to identify desirable genes from breeding materials, haplotype breeding parents and provide useful information to help breeders to make breeding plans, map QTL for agronomically important traits, and identify high-throughput markers for traits of breeders' interest and use them for marker-assisted selection. 3.Progress Report This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and Kansas State University. Additional details of this research can be found in the report for the parent project 5430-21000-005-00D, Genetic Enhancement for Resistance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Hard Winter Wheat. This agreement is associated with the Wheat Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP). A recombinant inbred line population of Avocet (susceptible) x Amadina (resistant) was used to evaluate resistance to leaf and stripe rust. Stripe rust data is primarily field data collected in collaboration with CIMMYT at Toluca, Mexico. Leaf rust data was collected in collaboration with CIMMYT at Obregon, Mexico. In addition, the population was inoculated with a race virulent on seedlings of both Avocet and Amadina (minor gene resistance is primarily expressed only in adult plants) in the greenhouse. Data on latent period, pustule size and percent leaf area affected were taken in this experiment. Preliminary quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis revealed putative QTLs for stripe rust on chromosomes 2DL, 4B, 5BL and 1DS. Regions influencing leaf rust were found on 7B and 7A. These QTLs and associated markers may be useful for incorporating more durable rust resistance into local cultivars. A doubled haploid population of experimental line KS01HW163-4 (tolerant) x Heyne (susceptible) was increased in the greenhouse and also evaluated for tolerance to preharvest sprouting. QTL mapping will be done on this population next year. Progress on this agreement is monitored by regularly discussing program goals, approaches, and results (on site) and by reviewing annual accomplishments reports.