The objective of the study was to identify genes for resistance to powdery mildew in wheat cultivars and land races from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The presence and distribution of resistance genes was compared to powdery mildew virulence structure in these countries. The different strategies in breeding for resistance were expressed in a different distribution of resistance genes, especially among Polish and Hungarian cultivars. In 20 of the 29 Hungarian common wheat cultivars the resistance gene Pm8 was found. Of the 32 Polish cultivars investigated, 16 possess a combination of genes Pm2+6. Resistance gene Pm4b did not occur in any Hungarian cultivar tested, and resistance gene pm5 was not detected in any Polish cultivar. Virulence in wheat powdery mildew populations was influenced by differences in distribution of resistance genes in host genotypes. The most significant difference was found between Polish and Hungarian powdery mildew populations. The two populations differed mainly in virulence against Pm2. Resistance gene MlAr was detected in three old Slovak cultivars.