Molecular identification of powdery mildew resistance genes in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Novel Powdery Mildew Resistance Loci in Bread Wheat

Powdery mildew (PM), caused by the fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), significantly threatens global bread wheat production. Although the use of resistant cultivars is an effective strategy for managing PM, currently available wheat cultivars lack sufficient levels of resistance. To tackle this challenge, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a diverse panel of 286 bread wheat genotypes. Over three consecutive years (2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023), these genotypes were extensively evaluated for PM severity under field conditions following inoculation with virulent Bgt isolates. The panel was previously genotyped using the Illumina 90K Infinium iSelect assay to obtain genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker coverage. By applying FarmCPU, a multilocus mixed model, we identified a total of 113 marker-trait associations (MTAs) located on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6B, 7A, and 7B at a significance level of p ≤ 0.001. Notably, four novel MTAs on chromosome 6B were consistently detected in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Furthermore, within the confidence intervals of the identified SNPs, we identified 96 candidate genes belonging to different proteins including 12 disease resistance/host-pathogen interaction-related protein families. Among these, protein kinases, leucine-rich repeats, and zinc finger proteins were of particular interest due to their potential roles in PM resistance. These identified loci can serve as targets for breeding programs aimed at developing disease-resistant wheat cultivars.

Genome-Wide Association Analysis and Genomic Prediction for Adult-Plant Resistance to Septoria Tritici Blotch and Powdery Mildew in Winter Wheat

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici and powdery mildew (PM) caused by Blumeria graminis f.sp tritici (Bgt) are among the forefront foliar diseases of wheat that lead to a significant loss of grain yield and quality. Resistance breeding aimed at developing varieties with inherent resistance to STB and PM diseases has been the most sustainable and environment-friendly approach. In this study, 175 winter wheat landraces and historical cultivars originated from the Nordic region were evaluated for adult-plant resistance (APR) to STB and PM in Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, and Sweden. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) and genomic prediction (GP) were performed based on the adult-plant response to STB and PM in field conditions using 7,401 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated by 20K SNP chip. Genotype-by-environment interaction was significant for both disease scores. GWAS detected stable and environment-specific quantitative trait locis (QTLs) on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 1D, 2B, 3B, 4A, 5A, 6A, and 6B for STB and 2A, 2D, 3A, 4B, 5A, 6B, 7A, and 7B for PM adult-plant disease resistance. GP accuracy was improved when assisted with QTL from GWAS as a fixed effect. The GWAS-assisted GP accuracy ranged within 0.53–0.75 and 0.36–0.83 for STB and PM, respectively, across the tested environments. This study highlights that landraces and historical cultivars are a valuable source of APR to STB and PM. Such germplasm could be used to identify and introgress novel resistance genes to modern breeding lines.

Genome-wide Association Analysis of Powdery Mildew Resistance in U.S. Winter Wheat

Wheat powdery mildew (PM), caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is a major fungal disease of wheat worldwide. It can cause considerable yield losses when epidemics occur. Use of genetic resistance is the most effective approach to control the disease. To determine the genomic regions responsible for PM resistance in a set of U.S. winter wheat and identify DNA markers in these regions, we conducted a genome-wide association study on a set of 185 U.S. winter wheat accessions using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from 90 K wheat SNP arrays. We identified significant SNP markers linked to nine quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers linked to three QTLs for PM resistance. Most of the QTLs in the US winter wheat population have been reported previously, but some such as these on chromosomes 1A, 6A and 1B have not been reported previously, and are likely new QTLs for PM resistance in U.S. winter wheat. The germplasm with immunity to PM are good sources of resistance for PM resistance breeding and the markers closely linked to the QTLs can be used in marker-assisted selection to improve wheat PM resistance after further validation.

Molecular mapping of a new powdery mildew resistance gene Pm2b in Chinese breeding line KM2939

An allele of Pm2 for wheat powdery mildew resistance was identified in a putative Agropyron cristatum -derived line and used in wheat breeding programs. Powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Bgt) is one of the most devastating wheat diseases worldwide. It is important to exploit varied sources of resistance from common wheat and its relatives in resistance breeding. KM2939, a Chinese breeding line, exhibits high resistance to powdery mildew at both the seedling and adult stages. It carries a single dominant powdery mildew resistance (Pm) allele of Pm2, designated Pm2b, the previous allelic designation Pm2 will be re-designated as Pm2a. Pm2b was mapped to chromosome arm 5DS and flanked by sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers SCAR112 and SCAR203 with genetic distances of 0.5 and 1.3 cM, respectively. Sequence tagged site (STS) marker Mag6176 and simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker Cfd81 co-segregated with SCAR203. Pm2b differs in specificity from donors of Pm2a, Pm46 and PmLX66 on chromosome arm 5DS. Allelism tests indicated that Pm2b, Pm2a and PmLX66 are allelic. Therefore, Pm2b appears to be a new allele at the Pm2 locus. The closely linked markers were used to accelerate transfer of Pm2b to wheat cultivars in current production.

Sequence-based marker development in wheat: advances and applications to breeding

In the past two decades, the wheat community has made remarkable progress in developing molecular resources for breeding. A wide variety of molecular tools has been established to accelerate genetic and physical mapping for facilitating the efficient identification of molecular markers linked to genes and QTL of agronomic interest. Already, wheat breeders are benefiting from a wide range of techniques to follow the introgression of the most favorable alleles in elite material and develop improved varieties. Breeders soon will be able to take advantage of new technological developments based on Next Generation Sequencing. In this paper, we review the molecular toolbox available to wheat scientists and breeders for performing fundamental genomic studies and breeding. Special emphasis is given on the production and detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that should enable a step change in saturating the wheat genome for more efficient genetic studies and for the development of new selection methods. The perspectives offered by the access to an ordered full genome sequence for further marker development and enhanced precision breeding is also discussed. Finally, we discuss the advantages and limitations of marker-assisted selection for supporting wheat improvement.

Microsatellite mapping of a Triticum urartu Tum. derived powdery mildew resistance gene transferred to common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A powdery mildew resistance gene from Triticum urartu Tum. accession UR206 was successfully transferred into hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through crossing and backcrossing. The F1 plants, which had 28 chromosomes and an average of 5.32 bivalents and 17.36 univalents in meiotic pollen mother cells (PMC), were obtained through embryos rescued owing to shriveling of endosperm in hybrid seed of cross Chinese Spring (CS) x UR206. Hybrid seeds were produced through backcrossing F1 with common wheat parents. The derivative lines had normal chromosome numbers and powdery mildew resistance similar to the donor UR206, indicating that the powdery mildew resistance gene originating from T. urartu accession UR206 was successfully transferred and expressed in a hexaploid wheat background. Genetic analysis indicated that a single dominant gene controlled the powdery mildew resistance at the seedling stage. To map and tag the powdery mildew resistance gene, 143 F2 individuals derived from a cross UR206 x UR203 were used to construct a linkage map. The resistant gene was mapped on the chromosome 7AL based on the mapped microsatellite makers. The map spanned 52.1 cM and the order of these microsatellite loci agreed well with the established microsatellite map of chromosome arm 7AL. The resistance gene was flanked by the microsatellite loci Xwmc273 and Xpsp3003, with the genetic distances of 2.2 cM and 3.8 cM, respectively. On the basis of the origin and chromosomal location of the gene, it was temporarily designated PmU.

Development of wheat near-isogenic lines for powdery mildew resistance

Using three Chinese wheat cultivars, 'Bainong 3217', 'Beijing 837' and 'Laizhou 953', as recurrent parents, 33 near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying 22 powdery mildew resistance genes (Pm1c, Pm2, Pm4b, Pm12, Pm13, Pm16, Pm20, Pm21, Pm23, and 13 undocumented genes) were developed. All NILs had no significant difference to their recurrent parents in the investigated traits of agronomic importance. The results of AFLP analysis indicated Jaccard's genetic similarity of the NILs with their recurrent parents varied from 0.96 to 0.98, and confirmed that the NILs had high genetic similarity with their recurrent parents. The resistance to powdery mildew was stably expressed by the relevant NILs. Eleven of the NILs were tested using molecular markers linked to the resistance genes Pm1c, Pm4b, Pm13, Pm21, PmP, PmE, PmPS5A, PmPS5B, PmY39, PmY150, and PmH, and they were all found to carry the targeted genes. The potential application of these NILs in gene discovery is discussed.

Powdery mildew resistance gene Pm22 in cultivar Virest is a member of the complex Pm1 locus in common wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.)

The powdery mildew resistance gene Pm22, identified in the Italian wheat cultivar Virest and originally assigned to wheat chromosome 1D, was mapped to chromosome 7A with the aid of molecular markers. Mapping of common AFLP and SSR markers in two wheat crosses segregating for Pm22 and Pm1c, respectively, indicated that Pm22 is a member of the complex Pm1 locus. Pm22 also showed a pattern of resistance reaction to a differential set of Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici isolates that was distinguishable from those from other Pm1 alleles in lines Axminster/8*Cc ( Pm1a), MocZlatka ( Pm1b), Weihenstephan Stamm M1N ( Pm1c) and Triticum spelta var. duhamelianum TRI 2258 ( Pm1d). Based on these results, the gene symbol Pm1e is proposed for the powdery mildew resistance gene in cv. Virest.

A major gene for powdery mildew resistance transferred to common wheat from wild einkorn wheat

ABSTRACT A major gene for resistance to wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici = Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici) has been successfully transferred into hexaploid common wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) from wild einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum subsp. aegilopoides, 2n = 2x = 14, AA). NC96BGTA5 is a germ plasm line with the pedigree Saluda x 3/PI427662. The response patterns for powdery mildew resistance in NC96BGTA5 were tested with 30 differential isolates of B. graminis f. sp. tritici, and the line was resistant to all tested isolates. The analyses of P(1), P(2), F(1), F(2), and BC(1)F(1) populations derived from NC96BGTA5 revealed two genes for wheat powdery mildew resistance in the NC96BGTA5 line. One gene, Pm3a, was from its recurrent parent Saluda, and the second was a new gene introgressed from wild einkorn wheat. The gene was determined to be different from Pm1 to Pm21 by gene-for-gene and pedigree analyses. The new gene was identified as linked to the Pm3a gene based on the F(2) and BC(1)F(1) populations derived from a cross between NC96BGTA5 and a susceptible cultivar NK-Coker 68-15, and the data indicated that the gene was located on chromosome 1A. It is proposed that this new gene be designated Pm25 for wheat powdery mildew resistance in NC96BGTA5. Three random amplified polymorphic DNA markers, OPX06(1050), OPAG04(950), and OPAI14(600), were found to be linked to this new gene.