Development and characterization of a Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng 7Ns chromosome addition line with leaf rust resistance

Molecular Cytological Analysis and Specific Marker Development in Wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng 3Ns Additional Line with Elongated Glume

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs) is an excellent gene resource for wheat breeding, which is characterized by early maturity, low plant height, and disease resistance. The wheat-P. huashanica derivatives were created by the elite genes of P. huashanica and permeate into common wheat through hybridization. Among them, a long-glume material 20JH1155 was identified, with larger grains and longer spike than its parents. In the present study, the methods of cytological observation, GISH, and sequential FISH analysis showed that 20JH1155 contained 21 pairs of wheat chromosomes and a pair of P. huashanica. There were some differences in 5A and 7B chromosomes between 20JH1155 and parental wheat 7182. Molecular marker, FISH, and sequence cloning indicated 20JH1155 alien chromosomes were 3Ns of P. huashanica. In addition, differentially expressed genes during immature spikelet development of 20JH1155 and 7182 and predicted transcription factors were obtained by transcriptome sequencing. Moreover, a total of 7 makers derived from Ph#3Ns were developed from transcriptome data. Taken together, the wheat-P. huashanica derived line 20JH1155 provides a new horizon on distant hybridization of wheat and accelerates the utilization of genes of P. huashanica.

Cytogenetic identification and molecular marker development of a novel wheat-Leymus mollis 4Ns(4D) alien disomic substitution line with resistance to stripe rust and Fusarium head blight

Leymus mollis (Trin.) Pilg. (2n = 4x = 28, NsNsXmXm) potentially harbours useful genes that might contribute to the improvement of wheat. We describe M862 as a novel wheat-L. mollis alien disomic substitution line from a cross between wheat cv. 7182 and octoploid Tritileymus M47. Cytological observations indicate that M862 has a chromosome constitution of 2n = 42 = 21II. Two 4D chromosomes of wheat substituted by two L. mollis Ns chromosomes were observed, using the GISH and ND-FISH analyses. Molecular marker, 55K SNP array and wheat-P. huashanica liquid array (GenoBaits^®WheatplusPh) analyses further indicate that the alien chromosomes are L. mollis 4Ns. Therefore, it was deduced that M862 was a wheat-L. mollis 4Ns(4D) alien disomic substitution line. There were also changes in chromosomes 1A, 1D, 2B and 5A detected by ND-FISH analysis. Transcriptome sequencing showed that the structural variation of 1D, 1A and 5A may have smaller impact on gene expression than that for 2B. In addition, a total of 16 markers derived from Lm#4Ns were developed from transcriptome sequences, and these proved to be highly effective for tracking the introduced chromosome. M862 showed reduced height, larger grains (weight and width), and was highly resistance to CYR32 and CYR34 stripe rust races at the seedling stage and mixed stripe rust races (CYR32, CYR33 and CYR34) at the adult stage. It was also resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB). This alien disomic substitution line M862 may be exploited as an important genetic material in the domestication of stipe rust and FHB resistance wheat varieties.

Cytogenetic and Molecular Marker Analyses of a Novel Wheat–Psathyrostachys huashanica 7Ns Disomic Addition Line with Powdery Mildew Resistance

Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici is a devastating disease that reduces wheat yield and quality worldwide. The exploration and utilization of new resistance genes from wild wheat relatives is the most effective strategy against this disease. Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng f. ex P. C. Kuo (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs) is an important tertiary gene donor with multiple valuable traits for wheat genetic improvement, especially disease resistance. In this study, we developed and identified a new wheat—P. huashanica disomic addition line, 18-1-5—derived from a cross between P. huashanica and common wheat lines Chinese Spring and CSph2b. Sequential genomic and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses revealed that 18-1-5 harbored 21 pairs of wheat chromosomes plus a pair of alien Ns chromosomes. Non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization and molecular marker analyses further demonstrated that the alien chromosomes were derived from chromosome 7Ns of P. huashanica. The assessment of powdery mildew response revealed that line 18-1-5 was highly resistant at the adult stage to powdery mildew pathogens prevalent in China. The evaluation of agronomic traits indicated that 18-1-5 had a significantly reduced plant height and an increased kernel length compared with its wheat parents. Using genotyping-by-sequencing technology, we developed 118 PCR-based markers specifically for chromosome 7Ns of P. huashanica and found that 26 of these markers could be used to distinguish the genomes of P. huashanica and other wheat-related species. Line 18-1-5 can therefore serve as a promising bridging parent for wheat disease resistance breeding. These markers should be conducive for the rapid, precise detection of P. huashanica chromosomes and chromosomal segments carrying Pm resistance gene(s) during marker-assisted breeding and for the investigation of genetic differences and phylogenetic relationships among diverse Ns genomes and other closely related ones.

Identification of resistance to Fusarium head blight and molecular cytogenetics of interspecific derivatives between wheat and Psathyrostachys huashanica

Psathyrostachys huashanica is a relative of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with many disease resistance genes that can be used to improve wheat disease resistance. In order to enrich the germplasm resources available in wheat genetics and breeding, we assessed Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance in 45 interspecific derivatives between wheat and Psathyrostachys huashanica during two years from 2017-2018. Two interspecific derivatives comprising, H-34-8-2-6-1 and H-24-3-1-5-19-1 were identified as FHB resistant lines. These two lines were examined based on their morphology and cytogenetics, as well as by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), molecular markers, and 660K genotyping array to determine their genetic construction. The results confirmed H-34-8-2-6-1 as a wheat-P. huashanica 1Ns long arm ditelosomic addition line and H-24-3-1-5-19-1 as a wheat-P. huashanica 2Ns substitution line. Assessments of the agronomic traits showed that H-34-8-2-6 had significantly higher kernel number per spike and self-fertility rate than parent 7182. In addition, compared with 7182, H-24-3-1-5-19-1 had a much lower plant height while the other agronomic traits were relatively similar. The two new lines are valuable germplasm materials for breeding FHB resistance in wheat.

Identification of a Wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica 7Ns Ditelosomic Addition Line Conferring Early Maturation by Cytological Analysis and Newly Developed Molecular and FISH Markers

Early maturation is an important objective in wheat breeding programs that could facilitate multiple-cropping systems, decrease disaster- and disease-related losses, ensure stable wheat production, and increase economic benefits. Exploitation of novel germplasm from wild relatives of wheat is an effective means of breeding for early maturity. Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng f. ex P. C. KUO (2n=2x=14, NsNs) is a promising source of useful genes for wheat genetic improvement. In this study, we characterized a novel wheat-P. huashanica line, DT23, derived from distant hybridization between common wheat and P. huashanica. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and sequential genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analyses indicated that DT23 is a stable wheat-P. huashanica ditelosomic addition line. FISH painting and PCR-based landmark unique gene markers analyses further revealed that DT23 is a wheat-P. huashanica 7Ns ditelosomic addition line. Observation of spike differentiation and the growth period revealed that DT23 exhibited earlier maturation than the wheat parents. This is the first report of new earliness per se (Eps) gene(s) probably associated with a group 7 chromosome of P. huashanica. Based on specific locus-amplified fragment sequencing technology, 45 new specific molecular markers and 19 specific FISH probes were developed for the P. huashanica 7Ns chromosome. Marker validation analyses revealed that two specific markers distinguished the Ns genome chromosomes of P. huashanica and the chromosomes of other wheat-related species. These newly developed FISH probes specifically detected Ns genome chromosomes of P. huashanica in the wheat background. The DT23 line will be useful for breeding early maturing wheat. The specific markers and FISH probes developed in this study can be used to detect and trace P. huashanica chromosomes and chromosomal segments carrying elite genes in diverse materials.

Development and Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of a New Wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng Translocation Line Resistant to Powdery Mildew

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng, a wild relative of common wheat with many desirable traits, is an invaluable source of genetic material for wheat improvement. Few wheat-P. huashanica translocation lines resistant to powdery mildew have been reported. In this study, a wheat-P. huashanica line, E24-3-1-6-2-1, was generated via distant hybridization, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis, and backcross breeding. A chromosome karyotype of 2n = 44 was observed at the mitotic stage in E24-3-1-6-2-1. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis revealed four translocated chromosomes in E24-3-1-6-2-1, and P. huashanica chromosome-specific marker analysis showed that the alien chromosome fragment was from the P. huashanica 4Ns chromosome. Moreover, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis demonstrated that reciprocal translocation had occurred between the P. huashanica 4Ns chromosome and the wheat 3D chromosome; thus, E24-3-1-6-2-1 carried two translocations: T3DS·3DL-4NsL and T3DL-4NsS. Translocation also occurred between wheat chromosomes 2A and 4A. At the adult stage, E24-3-1-6-2-1 was highly resistant to powdery mildew, caused by prevalent pathotypes in China. Further, the spike length, numbers of fertile spikelets, kernels per spike, thousand-kernel weight, and grain yield of E24-3-1-6-2-1 were significantly higher than those of its wheat parent 7182 and addition line 24-6-3-1. Thus, this translocation line that is highly resistant to powdery mildew and has excellent agronomic traits can be used as a novel promising germplasm for breeding resistant and high-yielding cultivars.

Molecular Cytogenetic and Agronomic Characterization of the Similarities and Differences Between Wheat-Leymus mollis Trin. and Wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng 3Ns (3D) Substitution Lines

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs) and Leymus mollis Trin. (2n = 4x = 28, NsNsXmXm) are valuable resources for wheat breeding improvement as they share the Ns genome, which contains diverse resistance genes. To explore the behaviors and traits of Ns chromosomes from the two species in wheat background, a series of wheat-P. huashanica and wheat-L. mollis substitution lines were developed. In the present study, line DH109 (F₇ progeny of wheat-P. huashanica heptaploid line H8911 × durum wheat Trs-372) and line DM131 (F₈ progeny of wheat-L. mollis octoploid line M842 × durum wheat Trs-372) were selected. Cytological observation combined with genomic in situ hybridization experiments showed that DH109 and DM131 each had 20 pairs of wheat chromosomes plus a pair of alien chromosomes (Ns chromosome), and the pair of alien chromosomes showed stable inheritance. Multiple molecular markers and wheat 55K SNP array demonstrated that a pair of wheat 3D chromosome in DH109 and in DM131 was substituted by a pair of P. huashanica 3Ns chromosome and a pair of L. mollis 3Ns chromosome, respectively. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis confirmed that wheat 3D chromosomes were absent from DH109 and DM131, and chromosomal FISH karyotypes of wheat 3D, P. huashanica 3Ns, and L. mollis 3Ns were different. Moreover, the two lines had many differences in agronomic traits. Comparing with their wheat parents, DH109 expressed superior resistance to powdery mildew and fusarium head blight, whereas DM131 had powdery mildew resistance, longer spike, and more tiller number. Therefore, Ns genome from P. huashanica and L. mollis might have some different effects. The two novel wheat-alien substitution lines provide new ideas and resources for disease resistance and high-yield breeding on further utilization of 3Ns chromosomes of P. huashanica or L. mollis.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of a novel wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng T3DS-5NsL•5NsS and T5DL-3DS•3DL dual translocation line with powdery mildew resistance

BACKGROUND

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs) carries many outstanding agronomic traits, therefore is a valuable resource for wheat genetic improvement. Wheat-P. huashanica translocation lines are important intermediate materials for wheat breeding and studying the functions of alien chromosomes. However, powdery mildew resistance in these translocation lines has not been reported previously.

RESULTS

This study developed a novel wheat-P. huashanica translocation line TR77 by selecting a F₇ progeny from the cross between heptaploid hybrid H8911 (2n = 7x = 49, AABBDDNs) and durum wheat line Trs-372. Chromosome karyotype of 2n = 42 = 21II was observed in both mitotic and meiotic stages of TR77. Genomic in situ hybridization analysis identified two translocated chromosomes that paired normally at meiosis stage in TR77. Molecular marker analysis showed that part of chromosome 5D was replaced by part of alien chromosome fragment 5Ns. It meant replacement made part 5DL and part 5NsL·5NsS existed in wheat background, and then translocation happened between these chromosomes and wheat 3D chromosome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated that TR77 carries dual translocations: T3DS-5NsL·5NsS and T5DL-3DS·3DL. Analysis using a 15 K-wheat-SNP chip confirmed that SNP genotypes on the 5D chromosome of TR77 matched well with these of P. huashanica, but poorly with common wheat line 7182. The translocation was physically located between 202.3 and 213.1 Mb in 5D. TR77 showed longer spikes, more kernels per spike, and much better powdery mildew resistance than its wheat parents: common wheat line 7182 and durum wheat line Trs-372.

CONCLUSIONS

TR77 is a novel stable wheat-P. huashanica T3DS-5NsL·5NsS and T5DL-3DS·3DL dual translocation line and showed significant improved spike traits and resistance to powdery mildew compared to its parents, thus, it can be an useful germplasm for breeding disease resistance and studying the genetic mechanism of dual translocations.

Characterization of the Wheat-Psathyrostachys huashania Keng 2Ns/2D Substitution Line H139: A Novel Germplasm With Enhanced Resistance to Wheat Take-All

Take-all is a devastating soil-borne disease that affects wheat production. The continuous generation of disease-resistance germplasm is an important aspect of the management of this pathogen. In this study, we characterized the wheat-Psathyrostachys huashania Keng (P. huashania)-derived progeny H139 that exhibits significantly improved resistance to wheat take-all disease compared with its susceptible parent 7182. Sequential genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mc-FISH) analyses revealed that H139 is a stable wheat-P. huashania disomic substitution line lacking wheat chromosome 2D. Expressed sequence tag-sequence tagged site (EST-STS) marker and Wheat Axiom 660K Genotyping Array analysis further revealed that H139 was a novel wheat-P. huashania 2Ns/2D substitution line. In addition, the H139 line was shown to be cytologically stable with a dwarf phenotype and increased spikelet number. These results indicate that H139, with its enhanced wheat take-all disease resistance and desirable agronomic traits, provides valuable genetic resources for wheat chromosome engineering breeding.

The genome-wide transcriptional consequences of the nullisomic-tetrasomic stocks for homoeologous group 7 in bread wheat

Background

Hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L) arose by two polyploidisation events from three diploid species with homoeologous genomes. Nullisomic-tetrasomic (nulli-tetra or NT) lines are aneuploid wheat plants lacking two and adding two of six homoeologous chromosomes. These plants can grow normally, but with significantly morphological variations because the adding two chromosomes or the remaining four chromosomes compensate for those absent. Despite these interesting phenomena, detailed molecular mechanisms underlying dosage deletion and compensation in these useful genetic materials have not been determined.

Results

By sequencing the transcriptomes of leaves in two-week-old seedlings, we showed that the profiles of differentially expressed genes between NT stocks for homoeologous group 7 and the parent hexaploid Chinese Spring (CS) occurred throughout the whole genome with a subgenome and chromosome preference. The deletion effect of nulli-chromosomes was compensated partly by the tetra-chromosomes via the dose level of expressed genes, according to the types of homoeologous genes. The functions of differentially regulated genes primarily focused on carbon metabolic process, photosynthesis process, hormone metabolism, and responding to stimulus, and etc., which might be related to the defective phenotypes that included reductions in plant height, flag leaf length, spikelet number, and kernels per spike.

Conclusions

The perturbation of the expression levels of transcriptional genes among the NT stocks for homoeologous group 7 demonstrated the gene dosage effect of the subgenome at the genome-wide level. The gene dosage deletion and compensation can be used as a model to elucidate the functions of the subgenomes in modern polyploid plants.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5421-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Characterization of wheat – Psathyrostachys huashanica small segment translocation line with enhanced kernels per spike and stripe rust resistance

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs), a distant wild relative of common wheat, possesses rich potentially valuable traits, such as disease resistance and more spikelets and kernels per spike, that could be useful for wheat genetic improvement. Development of wheat – P. huashanica translocation lines will facilitate its practical utilization in wheat breeding. In the present study, a wheat – P. huashanica small segmental translocation line, K-13-835-3, was isolated and characterized from the BC1F5 population of a cross between wheat – P. huashanica amphiploid PHW-SA and wheat cultivar CN16. Cytological studies showed that the mean chromosome configuration of K-13-835-3 at meiosis was 2n = 42 = 0.10 I + 19.43 II (ring) + 1.52 II (rod). GISH analyses indicated that chromosome composition of K-13-835-3 included 40 wheat chromosomes and a pair of wheat – P. huashanica translocation chromosomes. FISH results demonstrated that the small segment from an unidentified P. huashanica chromosome was translocated into wheat chromosome arm 5DS, proximal to the centromere region of 5DS. Compared with the cultivar wheat parent CN16, K-13-835-3 was highly resistant to stripe rust pathogens prevalent in China. Furthermore, spikelets and kernels per spike in K-13-835-3 were significantly higher than those of CN16 in two growing seasons. These results suggest that the desirable genes from P. huashanica were successfully transferred into CN16 background. This translocation line could be used as novel germplasm for high-yield and, eventually, resistant cultivar breeding.

Development and Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of a Novel Wheat-Leymus mollis Lm#7Ns (7D) Disomic Substitution Line with Stripe Rust Resistance

Leymus mollis (2n = 4x = 28, NsNsXmXm) possesses novel and important genes for resistance against multi-fungal diseases. The development of new wheat—L. mollis introgression lines is of great significance for wheat disease resistance breeding. M11003-3-1-15-8, a novel disomic substitution line of common wheat cv. 7182 –L. mollis, developed and selected from the BC₁F₅ progeny between wheat cv. 7182 and octoploid Tritileymus M47 (2n = 8x = 56, AABBDDNsNs), was characterized by morphological and cytogenetic identification, analysis of functional molecular markers, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)—genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and disease resistance evaluation. Cytological observations suggested that M11003-3-1-15-8 contained 42 chromosomes and formed 21 bivalents at meiotic metaphase I. The GISH investigations showed that line contained 40 wheat chromosomes and a pair of L. mollis chromosomes. EST-STS multiple loci markers and PLUG (PCR-based Landmark Unique Gene) markers confirmed that the introduced L. mollis chromosomes belonged to homoeologous group 7, it was designated as Lm#7Ns. While nulli-tetrasomic and sequential FISH-GISH analysis using the oligonucleotide Oligo-pSc119.2 and Oligo-pTa535 as probes revealed that the wheat 7D chromosomes were absent in M11003-3-1-15-8. Therefore, it was deduced that M11003-3-1-15-8 was a wheat–L. mollis Lm#7Ns (7D) disomic substitution line. Field disease resistance demonstrated that the introduced L. mollis chromosomes Lm#7Ns were responsible for the stripe rust resistance at the adult stage. Moreover, M11003-3-1-15-8 had a superior numbers of florets. The novel disomic substitution line M11003-3-1-15-8, could be exploited as an important genetic material in wheat resistance breeding programs and genetic resources.

Molecular characterization of a wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng 2Ns disomic addition line with resistance to stripe rust

We characterized a wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica derived line 3-6-4-1 based on genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), molecular marker analysis, and agronomic trait evaluations. The GISH investigations showed that the 3-6-4-1 contained 42 wheat chromosomes and a pair of P. huashanica chromosomes. The homoeologous relationships of the introduced P. huashanica chromosomes were determined using EST-STS multiple loci markers from seven wheat homoeologous groups in the parents and the addition line. Twelve EST-STS markers located on the homoeologous group 2 chromosomes of wheat amplified polymorphic bands in 3-6-4-1, which were unique to P. huashanica. An introduced Ns chromosome pair that belonged to homoeologous group 2 was identified using chromosome-specific markers. Inoculation with isolates of the stripe rust pathotypes, CYR31, CYR32, and SY11-14, and mixed races (CYR31, CYR32, and SY11-14) in the seeding and adult stage, respectively, showed that 3-6-4-1 was generally resistant to stripe rust, which was probably attributable to its P. huashanica parent. We also compared a complete set of wheat-P. huashanica disomic addition lines (1Ns-7Ns, 2n = 44 = 22II) to assess their agronomic traits and morphological characteristics, which showed that 3-6-4-1 had improved spike traits compared with its parents. The P. huashanica 2Ns chromosome-specific molecular markers in 3-6-4-1 could be useful for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs to combat stripe rust. This line can be used as a donor source to introduce novel excellent genes from P. huashanica into wheat to widen its genetic diversity, thereby providing new germplasms for wheat breeding.

Isolation and characterization of a wheat--Psathyrostachys huashanica 'Keng' 3Ns disomic addition line with resistance to stripe rust

We isolated a wheat germplasm line, 22-2, which was derived from common wheat (Triticum aestivum '7182') and Psathyrostachys huashanica 'Keng' (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs). Genomic composition and homoeologous relationships of 22-2 was analyzed using cytology, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), EST-SSR, and EST-STS to characterize the alien chromatin in the transfer line. The cytological investigations showed that the chromosome number and configuration were 2n = 44 = 22 II. Mitotic and meiotic GISH using P. huashanica genomic DNA as the probe indicated that 22-2 contained a pair of P. huashanica chromosomes. The genomic affinities of the introduced P. huashanica chromosomes were determined by EST-SSR and EST-STS using multiple-loci markers from seven wheat homoeologous groups between the parents and addition line. One EST-SSR and 17 EST-STS markers, which were located on the homoeologous group 3 chromosomes of wheat, amplified polymorphic bands in 22-2 that were unique to P. huashanica. Thus, these markers suggested that the introduced Ns chromosome pair belonged to homoeologous group 3, so we designated 22-2 as a 3Ns disomic addition line. Based on disease reaction to mixed races (CYR31, CYR32, and Shuiyuan14) of stripe rust in the adult stages, 22-2 was found to have high resistance to stripe rust, which was possibly derived from its P. huashanica parent. Consequently, the new disomic addition line 22-2 could be a valuable donor source for wheat improvement depending on the excellent agronomic traits, especially, the introduction of novel disease resistance genes into wheat during breeding programs.