Leaf rust of barley(Hordeum vulgareL.), caused byPuccinia hordeiOtth. is common in New Zealand. It is particularly prevalent in the Canterbury region of the South Island. In a virulence survey carried out between 1990 and 1993 to determine the extent of pathogenic variation in the population ofP. hordeiin New Zealand, four virulence patterns were detected amongst 187 isolates from barley. All isolates were virulent on the genesPa, Pa2, Pa4, Pa6, Pa9,andPa12,and avirulent onPa7.Eighteen, 10, and 99% of isolates were virulent on the genesPa3Pa5, and Pa8respectively. No isolates were virulent on the combination ofPa3andPa5It is postulated that the barley cultivar ‘Liberty’ relies on the genePa3for its resistance to leaf rust. This is the first record of virulence onPa3andPa12in New Zealand. The cultivars ‘Liberty’ and ‘Triumph’ (which containsPa12) provided selection pressure for the spread of pathotypes with these two virulences respectively.