Garry M. Rosewarne

Leaf tip necrosis, molecular markers and β1-proteasome subunits associated with the slow rusting resistance genes Lr46/Yr29

Resistance based on slow-rusting genes has proven to be a useful strategy to develop wheat cultivars with durable resistance to rust diseases in wheat. However this type of resistance is often difficult to incorporate into a single genetic background due to the polygenic and additive nature of the genes involved. Therefore, markers, both molecular and phenotypic, are useful tools to facilitate the use of this type of resistance in wheat breeding programs. We have used field assays to score for both leaf and yellow rust in an Avocet-YrA × Attila population that segregates for several slow-rusting leaf and yellow rust resistance genes. This population was analyzed with the AFLP technique and the slow-rusting resistance locus Lr46/Yr29 was identified. A common set of AFLP and SSR markers linked to the Lr46/Yr29 locus was identified and validated in other recombinant inbred families developed from single chromosome recombinant populations that segregated for Lr46. These populations segregated for leaf tip necrosis (LTN) in the field, a trait that had previously been associated with Lr34/Yr18. We show that LTN is also pleiotropic or closely linked to the Lr46/Yr29 locus and suggest that a new Ltn gene designation should be given to this locus, in addition to the one that already exists for Lr34/Yr18. Coincidentally, members of a small gene family encoding β-1 proteasome subunits located on group 1L and 7S chromosomes implicated in plant defense were linked to the Lr34/Yr18 and Lr46/Yr29 loci.

Analysis of leaf and stripe rust severities reveals pathotype changes and multiple minor QTLs associated with resistance in an Avocet × Pastor wheat population

Leaf rust and stripe rust are important diseases of wheat world-wide and deployment of cultivars with genetic resistance is an effective and environmentally sound control method. The use of minor, additive genes conferring adult plant resistance (APR) has been shown to provide resistance that is durable. The wheat cultivar ‘Pastor’ originated from the CIMMYT breeding program that focuses on minor gene-based APR to both diseases by selecting and advancing generations alternately under leaf rust and stripe rust pressures. As a consequence, Pastor has good resistance to both rusts and was used as the resistant parent to develop a mapping population by crossing with the susceptible ‘Avocet’. All 148 F5 recombinant inbred lines were evaluated under artificially inoculated epidemic environments for leaf rust (3 environments) and stripe rust (4 environments, 2 of which represent two evaluation dates in final year due to the late build-up of a new race virulent to Yr31) in Mexico. Map construction and QTL analysis were completed with 223 polymorphic markers on 84 randomly selected lines in the population. Pastor contributed Yr31, a moderately effective race-specific gene for stripe rust resistance, which was overcome during this study, and this was clearly shown in the statistical analysis. Linked or pleiotropic chromosomal regions contributing to resistance against both pathogens included Lr46/Yr29 on 1BL, the Yr31 region on 2BS, and additional minor genes on 5A, 6B and 7BL. Other minor genes for leaf rust resistance were located on 1B, 2A and 2D and for stripe rust on 1AL, 1B, 3A, 3B, 4D, 6A, 7AS and 7AL. The 1AL, 1BS and 7AL QTLs are in regions that were not identified previously as having QTLs for stripe rust resistance. The development of uniform and severe epidemics facilitated excellent phenotyping, and when combined with multi-environment analysis, resulted in the relatively large number of QTLs identified in this study.

QTL characterization of resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust in the spring wheat line Francolin#1

Abstract Growing resistant wheat varieties is a key method of controlling two important wheat diseases, leaf rust and stripe rust. We analyzed quantitative trait loci (QTL) to investigate adult plant resistance (APR) to these rusts, using 141 F5 RILs derived from the cross ‘Avocet-YrA/Francolin#1’. Phenotyping of leaf rust resistance was conducted during two seasons at Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, whereas stripe rust was evaluated for two seasons in Toluca, Mexico, and one season in Chengdu, China. The genetic map was constructed with 581 markers, including diversity arrays technology and simple sequence repeat. Significant loci for reducing leaf rust severity were designated QLr.cim-1BL, QLr.cim-3BS.1, QLr.cim-3DC, and QLr.cim-7DS. The six QTL that reduced stripe rust severity were designated QYr.cim-1BL, QYr.cim-2BS, QYr.cim-2DS, QYr.cim-3BS.2, QYr.cim-5AL, and QYr.cim-6AL. All loci were conferred by Francolin#1, with the exception of QYr.cim-2DS, QYr.cim-5AL, and QYr.cim-6AL, which were derived from Avocet-YrA. Closely linked markers indicated that the 1BL locus was the pleiotropic APR gene Lr46/Yr29. QYr.cim-2BS was a seedling resistance gene designated as YrF that conferred intermediate seedling reactions and moderate resistance at the adult plant stage in both Mexican and Chinese environments. Significant additive interactions were detected between the six QTL for stripe rust, but not between the four QTL for leaf rust. Furthermore, we detected two new APR loci for leaf rust in common wheat: QLr.cim-3BS.1 and QLr.cim-7DS.

CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES FOR DURABLE RESISTANCE TO LEAF RUST AND YELLOW RUST IN CIMMYT SPRING WHEATS

Leaf and stripe rusts, caused byPuccinia triticinaandP. striiformis, respectively, are globally important fungal diseases that cause significant yield losses in wheat. The objectives of our study were to characterize genetic loci associated with resistance to leaf and yellow rusts by using molecular markers in multiple populations derived from a common susceptible cultivar Avocet crossed with several improved CIMMYT spring wheats. Results obtained from two crosses are presented. Using bulked segregant analysis and partial linkage mapping with AFLPs, SSRs and RFLPs, we identified six independent loci that contributed to adult plant resistance (APR) to the two rust diseases in Avocet x Pavon76 population. The loci identified on chromosomes 1BL, 4BL and 6AL influenced resistance to both yellow and leaf rust commonly whereas two additional loci, on chromosomes 3BS and 6BL, had effects on yellow rust only. In Avocet x Parula population, four independent loci were identified. The loci on chromosomes 1BL and 7DS had effects commonly for the two rust diseases, whereas the locus on chromosome 7B had effects only on leaf rust and the locus on chromosome 3BS had effects only on yellow rust. A single chromosome recombinant line population was used to map theLr46/Yr29locus as a simply inherited Mendelian trait

Characterization of Stripe Rust Resistance Genes in the Wheat Cultivar Chuanmai45

The objective of this research was to characterize the high level of resistance to stripe that has been observed in the released wheat cultivar, Chuanmai45. A combination of classic genetic analysis, molecular and cytogenetic methods were used to characterize resistance in an F2 population derived from Chuanmai45 and the susceptible Chuanmai42. Inheritance of resistance was shown to be conferred by two genes in Chuanmai45. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used along with segregation studies to show that one gene was located on a 1RS.1BL translocation. Molecular markers were employed to show that the other locus was located on chromosome 4B. The defeated gene, Yr24/26, on chromosome 1BL was present in the susceptible parent and lines that recombined this gene with the 1RS.1BL translocation were identified. The germplasm, loci, and associated markers identified in this study will be useful for application in breeding programs utilizing marker-assisted selection.

Different QTLs are associated with leaf rust resistance in wheat between China and Mexico

The wheat line ‘Chapio’ is resistant to leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticinia, and was derived from a breeding programme that focuses on multi-genic resistance to provide durability. This line was crossed with the susceptible ‘Avocet’ to develop an F6 recombinant inbred line population. The population was phenotyped for leaf rust severity in two environments each in Mexico and China. There were significant differences in the loci providing resistance between the two intercontinental regions. The Lr34 locus had large effects in both Mexico and China, highlighting its importance in providing a basis for broad-spectrum resistance. The Lr46 locus on chromosome 1BL and a 3D locus had effects in Mexico but not in China. Presence of Sr2 was determined by the phenotypic marker of pseudo-black chaff and was mapped to chromosome 3BS. This region was associated with a QTL that had strong effects in China but no significant effect in Mexico, as did a locus on chromosome 4B. Seedling tests on the parents indicated that the 3B locus was not the complimentary gene Lr27, but the 4B locus was in the same position as Lr31 (or Lr12). Further investigations showed that these loci worked independently and additively in adult plants. Chapio was bred for quantitative, non-race-specific resistance under strong phenotypic selection for leaf rust in Mexico. It is interesting that different QTLs contribute to this resistance in another country, and these results suggest that environmental effects, as well as race specificity, can play a role in expression of resistance.

Quality potential of synthetic-derived commercial wheat cultivars in south-western China

Abstract. Multi-environment trials were conducted to investigate the quality potential of synthetic-derived cultivars (SDCs) and non-synthetic-derived cultivars (NSCs) in south-western China. The environmental effect was greater than genotypic for most protein quantity and quality parameters. The genotype effect was greater for falling number and the parameters from the rapid visco analyser (RVA). In terms of group means, grain protein content, wet gluten content, falling number, and RVA parameters were all significantly lower in SDCs than NSCs. No differences in the parameters reflecting dough strength (Zeleny sedimentation volume and farinograph parameters) were found between the two groups. Significant differences existed within each group, and the degree of variation was especially great in SDCs, among which Chuanmai 104 performed well in various quality parameters. Germination index at physiological maturity varied greatly among cultivars, with the lowest being Chuanmai 104, and the SDCs significantly lower than the NSCs. Although delayed harvest resulted in a significant reduction in falling number, partial SDCs such as Chuanmai 104 and Chuanmai 42 expressed relatively small reductions. In summary, SDCs exhibit a higher degree of variation in quality parameters; these findings indicate their large potential for breeding high-quality cultivars in south-western China.