Identification and validation of Fusarium head blight resistance QTL in the U.S. soft red winter wheat cultivar ‘Jamestown’

Authors: CARPENTER - Purdue University; WRIGHT - Iowa State University; MALLA, SUBAS - Texas A&M University; SINGH, LOVEPREET - University Of Maryland; VAN SANFORD, DAVID - University Of Kentucky; CLARK, ANTHONY - University Of Kentucky; HARRISON, STEPHEN - Louisiana State University; MURPHY, J. PAUL - North Carolina State University; Costa, Jose; CHAO, SHIAOMAN - Former ARS Employee; Brown-Guedira, Gina; MCMASTER, NICOLE - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; SCHMALE III, DAVID - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; GRIFFEY, CARL - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University; RAWAT, NIDHI - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2020
Publication Date: 10/28/2020
Citation: Carpenter, Wright, Malla, S., Singh, L., Van Sanford, D., Clark, A., Harrison, S., Murphy, J., Costa, J., Chao, S., Brown Guedira, G.L., Mcmaster, N., Schmale Iii, D.G., Griffey, C.A., Rawat, N. 2020. Identification and validation of Fusarium head blight resistance QTL in the U.S. soft red winter wheat cultivar ‘Jamestown’. Crop Science. 60:2919–2930. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20307.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20307

Interpretive Summary: Use of genetic resistance is one of the most important strategies to manage the devastating disease Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat. Numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) having varying effects on reducing FHB and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation have been reported from non-adapted Asian wheat lines. The incorporation of such QTL into US wheat breeding programs has often resulted in the simultaneous transfer of other undesirable traits. Therefore, it is important to identify, characterize, and deploy sources of genetic resistance that do not suffer from poor adaptability. In the present work, QTL associated with FHB resistance in a high-yielding, moderately resistant soft red winter wheat cultivar ‘Jamestown’ were mapped and validated. The QTL mapping was done using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of from the cross between the susceptible cultivar Pioneer ‘25R47’ × Jamestown having 186 individuals. Scab evluation over 2 yr at three locations, and genotyping using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA markers identified two new QTL, named QFHB.vt-1B.1 and QFHB.vt-1B.2, on the chromosome 1B long arm. The QTL contributed to reduced FHB incidence, FHB severity, Fusarium-damaged kernels, and DON content. Independent mapping of these QTL using two additional RIL populations of FG95195 × Jamestown (170 RILs) and Jamestown × LA97113UC-124 (77 RILs) validated their stability and effectiveness in different genetic backgrounds. Kompetitive allele specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) assays were developed using linked SNPs for marker-assisted selection and tracking of the resistance QTL. These QTL are being used in breeding programs to develop FHB-resistant, high-yielding varieties.

Technical Abstract: Use of genetic resistance is one of the most important strategies to manage the devastating disease Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat. Numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) having varying effects on reducing FHB and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation have been reported from Asian, European, or distant sources such as wild relatives of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, coming from nonadapted backgrounds, the incorporation of such QTL into regional breeding programs has often resulted in the simultaneous transfer of other undesirable traits. Therefore, it is important to identify, characterize, and deploy sources of genetic resistance that do not suffer from poor adaptability and/or linkage drag. In the present work, QTL associated with FHB resistance in a high-yielding, moderately resistant soft red winter wheat cultivar ‘Jamestown’ were mapped and validated. The QTL mapping was done using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of Pioneer ‘25R47’ × Jamestown having 186 individuals. Phenotyping over 2 yr at three locations, and genotyping using the 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) platform identified two new QTL, named QFHB.vt-1B.1 and QFHB.vt-1B.2, on the chromosome 1B long arm. The QTL contributed to FHB incidence, FHB severity, Fusarium-damaged kernels, and DON content. Independent mapping of these QTL using two additional RIL populations of FG95195 × Jamestown (170 RILs) and Jamestown × LA97113UC-124 (77 RILs) validated their stability and effectiveness in different genetic backgrounds. Kompetitive allele specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) assays were developed using linked SNPs for marker-assisted selection of the QTL. These QTL are being used in breeding programs to develop FHB-resistant, high-yielding varieties.