Unlocking the genetic control of early seedling resistance to wheat powdery mildew through microphenomics

Microphenomics is a cutting-edge technique that facilitates large-scale quantification of the early, often critical stages of plant-pathogen interactions, providing unprecedented insights into the infection process and enabling the discovery of new resistance mechanisms. SL and ML-GWAS, along with gene enrichment analysis, provided a deeper understanding of the genetic control of WPM early resistance. Genotypes from Oman and the UK were particularly notable as good sources for improving early resistance to wheat powdery mildew due to their superior response and the high genetic distance between them and the German genotypes. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.