Variation in Chromosome Constitution of the Xiaoyan Series Partial Amphiploids and Its Relationship to Stripe Rust and Stem Rust Resistance

Cytogenetic identification and molecular mapping for the wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum introgression line with resistance to Fusarium head blight

KEY MESSAGE

Xinong 511, a new wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum variety with excellent fusarium head blight resistance, the QTLs were mapped to the wheat chromosomes 5B and 7A with named QFhb.nwafu-5B and QFhb.nwafu-7A, respectively. Novel Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance germplasms and genes are valuable for wheat improvement and breeding efforts. Thinopyrum ponticum, a wild relative of common wheat, is a valuable germplasm of disease resistance for wheat improvement and breeding. Xinong 511 (XN511) is a high-quality wheat variety widely cultivated in the Yellow and Huai Rivers Valley of China with stable FHB-resistance. Through analysis of pedigree materials of the wheat cultivar XN511, we found that the genetic material and FHB resistance from Th. ponticum were transmitted to the introgression line, indicating that the FHB resistance in XN511 likely originates from Th. ponticum. To further explore the genetic basis of FHB resistance in XN511, QTL mapping was conducted using the RILs population of XN511 and the susceptible line Aikang 58 (AK58). Survey with makers closely-linked to Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4, Fhb5, and Fhb7, indicated that both XN511 and the susceptible lines do not contain these QTL. Using bulked segregant analysis RNA-seq (BSR-Seq) and newly developed allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) markers, QTLs in XN511 were successfully located on wheat chromosomes 5B and 7A. These findings are significant for further understanding and utilizing FHB resistance genes in wheat improvement.

Identification and introgression of a novel leaf rust resistance gene from Thinopyrum intermedium chromosome 7Js into wheat

KEY MESSAGE

A novel leaf rust resistance locus located on a terminal segment (0-69.29 Mb) of Thinopyrum intermedium chromosome arm 7JsS has been introduced into wheat genome for disease resistance breeding. Xiaoyan 78829, a wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium partial amphiploid, exhibits excellent resistance to fungal diseases in wheat. To transfer its disease resistance to common wheat (Triticum aestivum), we previously developed a translocation line WTT26 using chromosome engineering. Disease evaluation showed that WTT26 was nearly immune to 14 common races of leaf rust pathogen (Puccinia triticina) and highly resistant to Ug99 race PTKST of stem rust pathogen (P. graminis f. sp. tritici) at the seedling stage. It also displayed high adult plant resistance to powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici). Cytogenetic and molecular marker analysis revealed that WTT26 carried a T4BS·7JsS chromosome translocation. Once transferred into the susceptible wheat genetic background, chromosome 7JsS exhibited its resistance to leaf rust, indicating that the resistance locus was located on this alien chromosome. To enhance the usefulness of this locus in wheat breeding, we further developed several new translocation lines with small Th. intermedium segments using irradiation and developed 124 specific markers using specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing, which increased the marker density of chromosome 7JsS. Furthermore, a refined physical map of chromosome 7JsS was constructed with 74 specific markers, and six bins were thus arranged according to the co-occurrence of markers and alien chromosome segments. Combining data from specific marker amplification and resistance evaluation, we mapped a new leaf rust resistance locus in the 0-69.29 Mb region on chromosome 7JsS. The translocation lines carrying the new leaf rust resistance locus and its linked markers will contribute to wheat disease-resistance breeding.

Physical mapping of a new powdery mildew resistance locus from Thinopyrum ponticum chromosome 4AgS

Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkworth and D.R. Dewey is a decaploid species that has served as an important genetic resource for improving wheat for the better part of a century. The wheat-Th. ponticum 4Ag (4D) disomic substitution line Blue 58, which was obtained following the distant hybridization between Th. ponticum and common wheat, has been stably resistant to powdery mildew under field conditions for more than 40 years. The transfer of 4Ag into the susceptible wheat cultivar Xiaoyan 81 resulted in powdery mildew resistance, indicating the alien chromosome includes the resistance locus. Irradiated Blue 58 pollen were used for the pollination of the recurrent parent Xiaoyan 81, which led to the development of four stable wheat-Th. ponticum 4Ag translocation lines with diverse alien chromosomal segments. The assessment of powdery mildew resistance showed that translocation line L1 was susceptible, but the other three translocation lines (WTT139, WTT146, and WTT323) were highly resistant. The alignment of 81 specific-locus amplified fragments to the Th. elongatum genome revealed that 4Ag originated from a group 4 chromosome. The corresponding physical positions of every 4Ag-derived fragment were determined according to a cytogenetic analysis, the amplification of specific markers, and a sequence alignment. Considering the results of the evaluation of disease resistance, the Pm locus was mapped to the 3.79-97.12 Mb region of the short arm of chromosome 4Ag. Because of its durability, this newly identified Pm locus from a group 4 chromosome of Th. ponticum may be important for breeding wheat varieties with broad-spectrum disease resistance.

Establishment and identification of six wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum disomic addition lines derived from partial amphiploid Xiaoyan 7430

Six wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum disomic addition lines derived from partial amphiploid Xiaoyan 7430 were identified using in situ hybridization and SNP microarray, the homoeologous group and stripe rust resistance of each alien chromosome were determined, and Th. ponticum chromosome-specific markers were developed. Xiaoyan 7430 is a significant partial amphiploid, which is used to set up a bridge for transferring valuable genes from Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey into common wheat. To accelerate the application of these useful genes in enriching the genetic variability of cultivated wheat by chromosome engineering, a complete set of derived addition lines has been created from Xiaoyan 7430. The chromosome composition of each line was characterized by the combination of genomic in situ hybridization and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mc-FISH), and the homoeology of each alien chromosome was determined by wheat SNP microarray analysis. Addition line WTA55 with alien group-6 chromosome was evaluated resistant to stripe rust isolates at both the seedling and grain-filling stages (Zadoks scale at z.11 and z.73). Diagnostic marker analysis proved that it could carry a novel stripe rust resistance gene derived from Th. ponticum. Furthermore, a FISH probe and 45 molecular markers specific for alien chromosomes were developed based on specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq). Of which 27 markers were separately located on single alien chromosome, and some of them could be used to identify the derived translocation lines. This set of addition lines as well as the molecular markers and the FISH probe will promote the introgression of abundant variation from Th. ponticum into wheat in wheat improvement programs.

Characterization of Two Wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum Introgression Lines With Pyramiding Resistance to Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is one of the most devastating foliar diseases in wheat production. The wild relative Thinopyrum ponticum (2n = 10x = 70) has been widely used in wheat genetic improvement due to its superior resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study, two wheat-Th. ponticum introgression lines named SN0293-2 and SN0293-7 were developed from the progenies of a cross between the octoploid Trititrigia SNTE20 and common wheat, including the elite cultivar Jimai 22. They had a novel powdery mildew resistance gene (temporarily named PmSN0293) putatively from Th. ponticum pyramided with Pm2 and Pm52, exhibiting excellent Pm resistance at both the seedling and adult stages. Sequential GISH-FISH detected no signal of Th. ponticum in these two lines but a pair of T1BL·1RS in SN0293-2. Chromosomal structural variations were also observed obviously in SN0293-2 and SN0293-7. Through the Wheat 660K SNP array, 157 SNPs, 134 of which were on 6A, were found to be specific to Th. ponticum. Based on the data combined with DNA re-sequencing, seven specific markers, including one CAPS marker on 2B and six CAPS and Indel markers on 6A, were developed, confirming their wheat-Th. ponticum introgression nature. Furthermore, the two lines displayed positive plant height and produced more kernels and higher 1,000-grain weight. Excellent resistance with desirable agronomic traits makes them valuable in wheat breeding programs.

Development and Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of Two Wheat-Aegilops geniculata Roth 7Mg Chromosome Substitution Lines with Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight, Powdery Mildew and Stripe Rust

Fusarium head blight (Fhb), powdery mildew, and stripe rust are major wheat diseases globally. Aegilops geniculata Roth (U^gU^gM^gM^g, 2n = 4x = 28), a wild relative of common wheat, is valuable germplasm of disease resistance for wheat improvement and breeding. Here, we report the development and characterization of two substitution accessions with high resistance to powdery mildew, stripe rust and Fhb (W623 and W637) derived from hybrid progenies between Ae. geniculata and hexaploid wheat Chinese Spring (CS). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Genomic in situ hybridizations (GISH), and sequential FISH-GISH studies indicated that the two substitution lines possess 40 wheat chromosomes and 2 Ae. geniculata chromosomes. Furthermore, compared that the wheat addition line parent W166, the 2 alien chromosomes from W623 and W637 belong to the 7M^g chromosomes of Ae. geniculata via sequential FISH-GISH and molecular marker analysis. Nullisomic-tetrasomic analysis for homoeologous group-7 of wheat and FISH revealed that the common wheat chromosomes 7A and 7B were replaced in W623 and W637, respectively. Consequently, lines W623, in which wheat chromosomes 7A were replaced by a pair of Ae. geniculata 7M^g chromosomes, and W637, which chromosomes 7B were substituted by chromosomes 7M^g, with resistance to Fhb, powdery mildew, and stripe rust. This study has determined that the chromosome 7M^g from Ae. geniculata exists genes resistant to Fhb and powdery mildew.

Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of a Novel Wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum 1JS (1B) Substitution Line Resistant to Powdery Mildew and Leaf Rust

Thinopyrum ponticum (2n = 10x = 70) is a wild relative of wheat with high tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses; it has been wildly used in wheat genetic improvement. A disomic substitution line named SN19647 was derived from a cross between Triticum aestivum and the wheat-Th. ponticum partial amphiploid SNTE20 (2n = 8x = 56). It was evaluated for disease resistance and characterized via sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and molecular markers. The results showed that SN19647 carried resistance to both powdery mildew and leaf rust. It contained 42 chromosomes with a pair of wheat chromosome 1B replaced by a pair of J^S chromosomes from Th. ponticum. In addition to chromosomal substitution events, structural variation also occurred on wheat chromosomes 2A, 5A, 6B, and 7B. Based on marker analysis, 19 markers specific to the J^S chromosome were obtained, of which seventeen markers belonged to homoeologous group one. These results indicated that SN19647 was a 1J^S (1B) substitution line. Compared with the known 1J^S (1D) substitution line CH10A5, it was found that 17 markers generated different specific bands to Th. ponticum, confirming the novelty of the 1J^S chromosome in SN19647. Therefore, SN19647, resistant to powdery mildew and leaf rust, was a novel 1J^S (1B) substitution line that can be used in wheat genetic improvement.

Chromosomal composition analysis and molecular marker development for the novel Ug99-resistant wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum translocation line WTT34

A novel Ug99-resistant wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum translocation line was produced, its chromosomal composition was analyzed and specific markers were developed. Stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn (Pgt) has seriously threatened global wheat production since Ug99 race TTKSK was first detected in Uganda in 1998. Thinopyrum ponticum is near immune to Ug99 races and may be useful for enhancing wheat disease resistance. Therefore, developing new wheat-Th. ponticum translocation lines that are resistant to Ug99 is crucial. In this study, a novel wheat-Th. ponticum translocation line, WTT34, was produced. Seedling and field evaluation revealed that WTT34 is resistant to Ug99 race PTKST. The resistance was derived from the alien parent Th. ponticum. Screening WTT34 with markers linked to Sr24, Sr25, Sr26, Sr43, and SrB resulted in the amplification of different DNA fragments from Th. ponticum, implying WTT34 carries at least one novel stem rust resistance gene. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mc-FISH), and multi-color GISH (mc-GISH) analyses indicated that WTT34 carries a T5DS·5DL-Th translocation, which was consistent with wheat660K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array results. The SNP array also uncovered a deletion event in the terminal region of chromosome 1D. Additionally, the homeology between alien segments and the wheat chromosomes 2A and 5D was confirmed. Furthermore, 51 PCR-based markers derived from the alien segments of WTT34 were developed based on specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq). These markers may enable wheat breeders to rapidly trace Th. ponticum chromosomal segments carrying Ug99 resistance gene(s).

Characterization of chromosome constitution in three wheat - Thinopyrum intermedium amphiploids revealed frequent rearrangement of alien and wheat chromosomes

BACKGROUND

Thinopyrum intermedium (2n = 6x = 42) is an important wild perennial Triticeae species exhibiting many potentially favorable traits for wheat improvement. Wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploids serve as a bridge to transfer desirable genes from Th. intermedium into common wheat.

RESULTS

Three octoploid Trititrigia accessions (TE261-1, TE266-1, and TE346-1) with good resistances to stripe rust, powdery mildew and aphids were selected from hybrid progenies between Th. intermedium and the common wheat variety 'Yannong 15' (YN15). Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and multicolor GISH (McGISH) analyses demonstrated that the three octoploid Trititrigia possess 42 wheat chromosomes and 14 Th. intermedium chromosomes. The 14 alien (Th. intermedium) chromosomes belong to a mixed genome consisting of J-, J^S- and St-genome chromosomes rather than a single J, J^S or St genome. Different types of chromosomal structural variation were also detected in the 1A, 6A, 6B, 2D and 7D chromosomes via FISH, McGISH and molecular marker analysis. The identity of the alien chromosomes and the variationes in the wheat chromosomes in the three Trititrigia octoploids were also different.

CONCLUSIONS

The wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploids possess 14 alien chromosomes which belong to a mixed genome consisting of J-, J^S- and St- chromosomes, and 42 wheat chromosomes with different structural variations. These accessions could be used as genetic resources in wheat breeding for the transfer of disease and pest resistance genes from Th. intermedium to common wheat.

Physical mapping of the blue-grained gene from Thinopyrum ponticum chromosome 4Ag and development of blue-grain-related molecular markers and a FISH probe based on SLAF-seq technology

A Thinopyrum ponticum chromosome 4Ag physical map was constructed, the blue-grained gene was localized, and related specific markers and a FISH probe were developed by SLAF-seq. Decaploid Thinopyrum ponticum (2n = 10x = 70) serves as an important gene pool for wheat improvement. The wheat-Th. ponticum 4Ag (4D) disomic substitution line Blue 58, derived from a distant hybridization between Th. ponticum and common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), bears blue coloration in the aleurone layer. To map the blue-grained gene, eight wheat-Th. ponticum 4Ag translocation lines with different chromosomal segment sizes were obtained from Blue 58 using ⁶⁰Co-γ ray irradiation and were characterized using cytogenetic and molecular marker analysis. A small-segment blue-grained wheat translocation line L13, accounting for one-fifth of 4AgL, was obtained. A physical map of chromosome 4Ag was constructed containing 573 specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) markers, including three bins with 223 markers on 4AgS and eight bins with 350 markers on 4AgL. The blue-grained gene in three blue-grained translocation lines L5, L9, and L13, was located on bin 4AgL-6 with FL 0.75-0.89. Moreover, 89 blue-grain-related molecular markers and one fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe, pThp12.19, were identified in this bin. The newly developed translocation lines and the molecular markers and FISH probe will facilitate the application of the Th. ponticum-origin blue-grained characteristic in wheat breeding.

Identification of chromosomes in Thinopyrum intermedium and wheat Th. intermedium amphiploids based on multiplex oligonucleotide probes

Synthesized oligonucleotides (oligos) can be used as effective probes similar to plasmid clones for chromosome identification in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, making oligo FISH a simpler and more efficient molecular cytogenetic technique for studying plants. In this study, multiplex oligonucleotide probes, including pSc119.2-1, pAs1-4, (GAA)10, (AAC)6, and pTa71, were combined and used in FISH to identify chromosomes in common wheat, Thinopyrum intermedium, and a wheat – Th. intermedium amphiploid TE256-1. In comparison with general FISH probes, signals generated by the multiplex probes were more abundant, colorful, and characteristic. Combining the results of genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) with FISH, Th. intermedium chromosomes and alien chromosomes in TE256-1 could be classified and identified more precisely, especially the J- and Js-genome chromosomes. Moreover, based on the FISH results using multiplex probes, more structural variations in wheat chromosomes of TE256-1 were detected. The results indicated that multiplex oligo probes would have a wide range of application prospects in the creation and identification of wheat – Th. intermedium germplasms.

Development of Thinopyrum ponticum-specific molecular markers and FISH probes based on SLAF-seq technology

Based on SLAF-seq, 67 Thinopyrum ponticum-specific markers and eight Th. ponticum-specific FISH probes were developed, and these markers and probes could be used for detection of alien chromatin in a wheat background. Decaploid Thinopyrum ponticum (2n = 10x = 70) is a valuable gene reservoir for wheat improvement. Identification of Th. ponticum introgression would facilitate its transfer into diverse wheat genetic backgrounds and its practical utilization in wheat improvement. Based on specific-locus-amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) technology, 67 new Th. ponticum-specific molecular markers and eight Th. ponticum-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes have been developed from a tiny wheat-Th. ponticum translocation line. These newly developed molecular markers allowed the detection of Th. ponticum DNA in a variety of materials specifically and steadily at high throughput. According to the hybridization signal pattern, the eight Th. ponticum-specific probes could be divided into two groups. The first group including five dispersed repetitive sequence probes could identify Th. ponticum chromatin more sensitively and accurately than genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Whereas the second group having three tandem repetitive sequence probes enabled the discrimination of Th. ponticum chromosomes together with another clone pAs1 in wheat-Th. ponticum partial amphiploid Xiaoyan 68.