The Russian wheat aphid (RWA; Diuraphis noxia [Kurdjumov]) is one of the world’s most economically important and invasive pests of wheat, barley, and other cereals and has a crucial economic impact on autumnal wheat worldwide. The development of resistant cultivars may cause the continuous emergence of new RWA biotypes that are virulent for RWA control, emphasizing the need to determine new sources of resistance. Controlling RWA with systemic insecticides is economically expensive and hazardous to the environment and human health. Therefore, the most efficient way to control RWA is to ascertain and develop wheat cultivars with resistant genes. The presented study sought to determine the Dn genes in 25 wheat cultivars, including 19 cultivars from Uzbekistan’s wheat breeding program and six cultivars from Russian breeding. The PCR screening proceeded with six (Xgwm44, Xgwm111, Xgwm635, Xgwm337, Xgwm642, and Xgwm473) SSR markers associated with Dn genes to recognize the genetic polymorphisms among the wheat cultivars. The results helped researchers in breeding programs, genetic improvement, and pest management, contributing to the economic viability of wheat farming. In turn, it enhances food security and promotes financial stability at both regional and national levels by increasing wheat yields and minimizing losses.

Keywords: Bread wheat, Triticum aestivum L., cultivars, Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia), RWA, Dn genes, DNA markers, resistance

Key findings: According to the acquired results, seven Dn (RWA-resistant) genes, including Dn2, Dn4, Dn6, Dn8, Dn9, Dn626580, and Dn2401, gained identification in bread wheat cultivars. These tolerant wheat cultivars would be beneficial in future gene pyramiding-like molecular approaches for breeding communities.