Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.), with a large genome (16000 Mb) and high proportion (∼80%) of repetitive sequences, has been a difficult crop for genomics research. However, the availability of extensive cytogenetics stocks has been an asset, which facilitated significant progress in wheat genomic research in recent years. For instance, fairly dense molecular maps (both genetic and physical maps) and a large set of ESTs allowed genome-wide identification of gene-rich and gene-poor regions as well as QTL including eQTL. The availability of markers associated with major economic traits also allowed development of major programs on marker-assisted selection (MAS) in some countries, and facilitated map-based cloning of a number of genes/QTL. Resources for functional genomics including TILLING and RNA interference (RNAi) along with some new approaches like epigenetics and association mapping are also being successfully used for wheat genomics research. BAC/BIBAC libraries for the subgenome D and some individual chromosomes have also been prepared to facilitate sequencing of gene space. In this brief review, we discuss all these advances in some detail, and also describe briefly the available resources, which can be used for future genomics research in this important crop.

The spot blotch disease of wheat is caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana , which is an anamorph (teleomorph Cochliobolus sativus ). The disease mainly occurs in warm, humid wheat‐growing regions, and the Eastern Gangetic Plains ( EGP ) of South Asia is a hotspot. Significant progress has been made in recent years in characterizing the host–pathogen interaction. The study of the pathogen's life cycle and diversity have been an active area of research. A number of resistance sources have also been identified, characterized and used for breeding. Although immunity has not been observed in any genotype, cultivars displaying a relatively high level of resistance have been developed and made available to farmers. Further progress will require regular use of marker‐assisted breeding, genomic selection, gene editing and transgenic interventions. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about genetic and breeding efforts on the wheat– B. sorokiniana pathosystem and discusses ways in which emerging tools can be used for future research to understand the mechanism involved in infection and for developing cultivars exhibiting a high level of resistance.