Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a strategically important crop for Russia, providing food security and foreign exchange earnings. One of the factors that reduce crop yields is the damage of plants by various types of pathogens. Barley smut is one of the most dangerous diseases of this crop and is widespread in almost all agricultural regions of Russia, especially in the Volga region, Siberia and Central region. To create new cultivars of barley and bring high-quality seeds to the market, the integration of molecular genetics into classical breeding is a key step. It is necessary to search for and map new genes for resistance to biotic factors and to screen existing genetic collections and breeding material extensively. The paper analyzes scientific publications by Russian and foreign researchers devoted to the use of molecular-genetic methods in the creation of barley cultivars resistant to loose (Ustilago nuda), covered (Ustilago hordei) and false loose (black) (Ustilago avenae (Pers.) Rostr.) smut mainly over the past 15 years. The possibilities and experience of using various PCR markers in marker-assisted breeding (MAS breeding) of disease-resistant cultivars are shown. A list of currently known genes, donor varieties, and DNA markers linked to genes and loci of barley resistance to loose, covered, and false loose (black) smut is presented. The prospects that open up with the introduction of molecular methods for modern breeding for barley resistance to head diseases are formulated.