Molecular mapping of QTL for Fusarium head blight resistance introgressed into durum wheat

Authors: ZHAO, MINGXIA - North Dakota State University; LENG, YUEQIANG - North Dakota State University; Chao, Shiaoman; Xu, Steven; ZHONG, SHAOBIN - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/2018
Publication Date: 6/4/2018
Citation: Zhao, M., Leng, Y., Chao, S., Xu, S.S., Zhong, S. 2018. Molecular mapping of QTL for Fusarium head blight resistance introgressed into durum wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 131(9):1939–1951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-018-3124-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-018-3124-4

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium head blight (FHB), commonly known as wheat scab, is a devastating disease of durum wheat. To combat the disease, much effort has been devoted to transfer FHB resistance genes from common wheat and other related wheat species into adapted durum cultivars using conventional cross-hybridization techniques. However, most of the FHB resistance genes transferred in this manner have not been well characterized in the durum backgrounds. In this study, we aimed to identify FHB resistance genes in a durum wheat line with FHB resistance derived from common wheat. Through genetic analysis and gene mapping, we identified three FHB resistance genes in the durum line and confirmed the successful transfer of a major gene from common wheat into durum wheat. The durum line carrying FHB resistance genes from common wheat is useful germplasm for developing new durum varieties with FHB resistance.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a devastating disease of durum wheat. To combat the disease, great efforts have been devoted to introgress FHB resistance from its related tetraploid and hexaploid wheat species into adapted durum cultivars. However, most of the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FHB resistance existing in the introgression lines are not well characterized or validated. In this study, we aimed to identify and map FHB resistance QTL in a population consisting of 205 recombinant inbred lines from the cross between Joppa (a durum wheat cultivar) and 10Ae564 (a durum wheat introgression line with FHB resistance derived from the hexaploid wheat line PI 277012). One QTL (Qfhb.ndwp-2A) from Joppa and two QTL (Qfhb.ndwp-5A and Qfhb.ndwp-7A) from 10Ae564 were identified through phenotyping of the mapping population for FHB severity and DON content in greenhouse and field and genotyping with 90K wheat Infinium iSelect SNP arrays. Qfhb.ndwp-2A explained 14%, 15%, and 9% of the phenotypic variation, respectively, for FHB severity in two greenhouse experiments and for mean DON content across the two greenhouse environments. Qfhb.ndwp-5A explained 19%, 10%, and 7% of phenotypic variation, respectively, for FHB severity in one greenhouse experiment, mean FHB severity across two field experiments, and mean DON content across the two greenhouse experiments. Qfhb.ndwp-7A was only detected for FHB severity in the two greenhouse experiments, explaining 9 and 11% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. This study confirms the existence of minor QTL in North Dakota durum cultivars and the successful transfer of the major QTL from PI 277012 into durum wheat.