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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #368396
Research Project: Improvement of Biotic Stress Resistance in Durum and Hard Red Spring Wheat Using Genetics and Genomics

Location: Cereal Crops Research

Title: Analysis of recombinant inbred line populations derived from wheat landraces to identify new genes for wheat stem sawfly resistance

Author
item VARELLA, ANDREA - Montana State University
item WEAVER, DAVID - Montana State University
item BLAKE, NANCY - Montana State University
item HOFLAND, MEGAN - Montana State University
item HEO, HWA-YOUNG - Montana State University
item COOK, JASON - Montana State University
item LAMB, PEGGY - Montana State University
item JORDAN, KATHERINE - Kansas State University
item AKHUNOV, EDUARD - Kansas State University
item Chao, Shiaoman
item TALBERT, LUTHER - Montana State University

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2019
Publication Date: 5/2/2019
Citation: Varella, A.C., Weaver, D.K., Blake, N.K., Hofland, M.L., Heo, H., Cook, J.P., Lamb, P.F., Jordan, K.W., Akhunov, E., Chao, S., Talbert, L.E. 2019. Analysis of recombinant inbred line populations derived from wheat landraces to identify new genes for wheat stem sawfly resistance. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 132(8):2195-2207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-019-03347-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-019-03347-8

Interpretive Summary: Wheat stem sawfly is an important insect pest of wheat. Oviposition of eggs by adults into the stems of wheat plants leads to the cutting of the stems by feeding larvae. Once the stems are cut, they fall to the ground making them unharvestable. Wheat plants that develop solid stems are more resistant to sawfly by inhibiting survival of the larvae. In this research, genetic analysis of diverse wheat lines was conducted to identify genes associated with resistance to sawfly. One gene was identified on chromosome 1B that was associated with the development of a solid stem. This gene was different than previously identified solid stem genes. Several other genes on other chromosomes were identified that were not related to stem solidness, indicating they caused detrimental effects to the sawfly insect that differed from the solid stem mechanism. Molecular markers for these genes were developed so that these new useful genes can be easily transferred to elite cultivars during the breeding process.

Technical Abstract: Wheat landrace accessions were chosen from areas of the world with historical European wheat stem sawfly (Cephus Pygmaeus L.) selection pressure to develop six recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. Molecular maps were constructed, and resistance due to antibiosis and antixenosis was assessed at sites in Montana naturally infested by Cephus cinctus Norton, the wheat stem sawfly (WSS). Novel QTLs were identified along with QTL previously identified in elite germplasm. A newly identified QTL on chromosome 1B provided a new source for pith-filled solid stems. An allele for resistance on chromosome 4A unrelated to solid stems was identified in four of the six RIL populations. A landrace from Turkey, PI 166471, contained alleles at three QTLs causing high levels of larval mortality. None of the QTLs were related to stem solidness, but their combined effect provided resistance similar to that observed in a solid-stem check cultivar. These results show the utility of genetic populations derived from geographically targeted landrace accessions to identify new alleles for insect resistance. New PCR-based molecular markers were developed for introgression of novel alleles for WSS resistance into elite lines. Comparison of results with previous analysis of elite cultivars addresses changes in allele frequencies during the wheat breeding process.