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Title: SELECTED GENES FROM THE FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT RESISTANT CULTIVAR FUNDULEA 201R

Author
item Alexander, Nancy
item ITTU, MARIANA - ARDI, CALARASI, ROMANIA

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2003
Publication Date: 12/15/2003
Citation: Alexander, N.J., Ittu, M. 2003. Selected genes from the fusarium head blight resistant cultivar fundulea 201r. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The development of wheat varieties with resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) is slowly occurring through breeding techniques. The varieties so far developed provide improved resistance to the spread of infection within the spike (Type II resistance). Immunity to FHB (Type I) has not yet been reported, however, the correlation between the known components of resistance and toxin decontamination is not well-defined. Chinese germplasm has served as the source of resistance genes in the majority of varietal development. However, it is necessary to diversify the sources of resistance to FHB in order to increase the success rate of developing wheat varieties with good resistance. F201R, developed at A.R.D.I-Fundulea as result of complex crosses, is a FHB-resistant Romanian winter wheat whose resistance is not related to the Chinese resistant germplasm. F201R carries the FHB resistance associated with QTLs (quantitative trait loci) located on chromosomes 1B, 3A, 3D and 5A, unlike the Sumai3 resistance QTL which is associated with chromosome 3BS. In an effort to isolate individual genes involved with FHB resistance, particularly the reaction to the presence of the toxin DON, we have used a suppressive hybridization cDNA subtraction method (Clontech) to obtain differentially expressed messages. Libraries were made from F201R inoculated with water (control) to obtain plant immune response genes; inoculated with F. graminearum to obtain fungal genes, as well as plant response genes; and inoculated with DON (deoxynivalenol) to obtain plant genes that are turned on in response to toxin. Results indicate that libraries containing genes from water-inoculated and DON-inoculated F201R contained many of the same genes and, therefore, selection of specific genes turned on in the presence of DON should be accessible. BLAST comparison of sequences has found a hypervariable sequence from rice, a UDP-galactose 4-epimerase-like protein, a carbamoyl phosphate synthase, unidentified rice BAC clones, and some sequences that are unique. Further comparison of sequences from the libraries with publicly available sequences should lead to the identification of plant genes involved with resistance to DON and/or fungal invasion.