Linkage drag analysis in three Aegilops speltoides introgressions carrying Sr47 in modern durum and hard red spring wheat germplasm

KEY MESSAGE

Yield and quality tests of wheat lines derived from RWG35 show they carry little, or no linkage drag and are the preferred source of Sr47 for stem rust resistance. Three durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) lines, RWG35, RWG36, and RWG37 carrying slightly different Aegilops speltoides introgressions, but each carrying the Sr47 stem rust resistance gene, were backcrossed to three durum and three hard red spring (HRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars to produce 18 backcross populations. Each population was backcrossed to the recurrent parent six times and prepared for yield trials to test for linkage drag. Lines carrying the introgression (S-lines) were compared to euploid sibling lines (W-lines) and their parent. Yield trials were conducted from 2018 to 2021 at three locations. Three agronomic and several quality traits were studied. In durum, lines derived from RWG35 had little or no linkage drag. Lines derived from RWG36 and RWG37 still retained linkage drag, most notably involving yield and thousand kernel weight, but also test weight, falling number, kernel hardness index, semolina extract, semolina protein content, semolina brightness, and peak height. In HRS wheat, the results were more complex, though the general result of RWG35 lines having little or no linkage drag and RWG36 and RWG37 lines retaining linkage drag still applied. But there was heterogeneity in the Glenn35S lines, and Linkert lines had problems combining with the Ae. speltoides introgressions. We concluded that introgressions derived from RWG35 either had eliminated linkage drag or any negative effects were minor in nature. We recommend that breeders who wish to incorporate Sr47 into their cultivars should work exclusively with germplasm derived from RWG35.

Haplotype variants of Sr46 in Aegilops tauschii, the diploid D genome progenitor of wheat

Stem rust resistance genes, SrRL5271 and Sr672.1 as well as SrCPI110651, from Aegilops tauschii, the diploid D genome progenitor of wheat, are sequence variants of Sr46 differing by 1-2 nucleotides leading to non-synonymous amino acid substitutions. The Aegilops tauschii (wheat D-genome progenitor) accessions RL 5271 and CPI110672 were identified as resistant to multiple races (including the Ug99) of the wheat stem rust pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). This study was conducted to identify the stem rust resistance (Sr) gene(s) in both accessions. Genetic analysis of the resistance in RL 5271 identified a single dominant allele (SrRL5271) controlling resistance, whereas resistance segregated at two loci (SR672.1 and SR672.2) for a cross of CPI110672. Bulked segregant analysis placed SrRL5271 and Sr672.1 in a region on chromosome arm 2DS that encodes Sr46. Molecular marker screening, mapping and genomic sequence analysis demonstrated SrRL5271 and Sr672.1 are alleles of Sr46. The amino acid sequence of SrRL5271 and Sr672.1 is identical but differs from Sr46 (hereafter referred to as Sr46_h1 by following the gene nomenclature in wheat) by a single amino acid (N763K) and is thus designated Sr46_h2. Screening of a panel of Ae. tauschii accessions identified an additional allelic variant that differed from Sr46_h2 by a different amino acid (A648V) and was designated Sr46_h3. By contrast, the protein encoded by the susceptible allele of Ae. tauschii accession AL8/78 differed from these resistance proteins by 54 amino acid substitutions (94% nucleotide sequence gene identity). Cloning and complementation tests of the three resistance haplotypes confirmed their resistance to Pgt race 98-1,2,3,5,6 and partial resistance to Pgt race TTRTF in bread wheat. The three Sr46 haplotypes, with no virulent races detected yet, represent a valuable source for improving stem resistance in wheat.

Characterization of synthetic wheat line Largo for resistance to stem rust

Resistance breeding is an effective approach against wheat stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The synthetic hexaploid wheat line Largo (pedigree: durum wheat “Langdon” × Aegilops tauschii PI 268210) was found to have resistance to a broad spectrum of Pgt races including the Ug99 race group. To identify the stem rust resistance (Sr) genes, we genotyped a population of 188 recombinant inbred lines developed from a cross between the susceptible wheat line ND495 and Largo using the wheat Infinium 90 K SNP iSelect array and evaluated the population for seedling resistance to the Pgt races TTKSK, TRTTF, and TTTTF in the greenhouse conditions. Based on genetic linkage analysis using the marker and rust data, we identified six quantitative trait loci (QTL) with effectiveness against different races. Three QTL on chromosome arms 6AL, 2BL, and 2BS corresponded to Sr genes Sr13c, Sr9e, and a likely new gene from Langdon, respectively. Two other QTL from PI 268210 on 2DS and 1DS were associated with a potentially new allele of Sr46 and a likely new Sr gene, respectively. In addition, Sr7a was identified as the underlying gene for the 4AL QTL from ND495. Knowledge of the Sr genes in Largo will help to design breeding experiments aimed to develop new stem rust-resistant wheat varieties. Largo and its derived lines are particularly useful for introducing two Ug99-effective genes Sr13c and Sr46 into modern bread wheat varieties. The 90 K SNP-based high-density map will be useful for identifying the other important genes in Largo.

Function and evolution of allelic variations of Sr13 conferring resistance to stem rust in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.)

The resistance gene Sr13 is one of the most important genes in durum wheat for controlling stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The Sr13 functional gene CNL13 has haplotypes R1, R2 and R3. The R1/R3 and R2 haplotypes were originally designated as alleles Sr13a and Sr13b, respectively. To detect additional Sr13 alleles, we developed Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP™) marker KASPSr13 and four semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR markers, rwgsnp37-rwgsnp40, based on the CNL13 sequence. These markers were shown to detect R1, R2 and R3 haplotypes in a panel of diverse tetraploid wheat accessions. We also observed the presence of Sr13 in durum line CAT-A1, although it lacked any of the known haplotypes. Sequence analysis revealed that CNL13 of CAT-A1 differed from the susceptible haplotype S1 by a single nucleotide (C2200T) in the leucine-rich repeat region and differed from the other three R haplotypes by one or two additional nucleotides, confirming that CAT-A1 carries a new (R4) haplotype. Stem rust tests on the monogenic, transgenic and mutant lines showed that R1 differed from R3 in its susceptibility to races TCMJC and THTSC, whereas R4 differed from all other haplotypes for susceptibility to TTKSK, TPPKC and TCCJC. Based on these differences, we designate the R1, R3 and R4 haplotypes as alleles Sr13a, Sr13c and Sr13d, respectively. This study indicates that Sr13d may be the primitive functional allele originating from the S1 haplotype via a point mutation, with the other three R alleles probably being derived from Sr13d through one or two additional point mutations.

Mapping and characterization of two stem rust resistance genes derived from cultivated emmer wheat accession PI 193883

Two stem rust resistance genes identified on chromosome arms 2BL and 6AL of the cultivated emmer wheat accession PI 193883 can be used for protecting modern varieties against Ug99 strains. The wheat research community consistently strives to identify new genes that confer resistance to stem rust caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks & E. Henn (Pgt). In the current study, our objective was to identify and genetically characterize the stem rust resistance derived from the cultivated emmer accession PI 193883. A recombinant inbred line population developed from a cross between the susceptible durum wheat line Rusty and PI 193883 was genotyped and evaluated for reaction to Pgt races TTKSK, TRTTF, and TMLKC. Two QTLs conferring resistance were identified on chromosome arms 2BL (QSr.fcu-2B) and 6AL (QSr.fcu-6A). The stem rust resistance gene (Sr883-2B) underlying QSr.fcu-2B was recessive, and based on its physical location it is located proximal to the Sr9 region. QSr.fcu-6A was located in the Sr13 region, but PI 193883 is known to carry the susceptible haplotype S4 for Sr13, indicating that the gene underlying QSr.fcu-6A (Sr883-6A) is likely a new allele of Sr13 or a gene residing close to Sr13. Three IWGSC scaffold-based simple sequence repeat (SSR) and two SNP-based semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR (STARP) markers were developed for the Sr883-2B region, and one STARP marker was developed for Sr883-6A. Sr883-2B was epistatic to Sr883-6A for reaction to TTKSK and TRTTF, and the two genes had additive effects for TMLKC. These two genes and the markers developed in this research provide additional resources and tools for the improvement in stem rust resistance in durum and common wheat breeding programs.

Molecular and Cytogenetic Characterization of Six Wheat-Aegilops markgrafii Disomic Addition Lines and Their Resistance to Rusts and Powdery Mildew

Aegilops markgrafii (Greuter) Hammer is an important source of genes for resistance to abiotic stresses and diseases in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A series of six wheat 'Alcedo'-Ae. markgrafii chromosome disomic addition lines, designated as AI(B), AII(C), AIII(D), AV(E), AIV(F), and AVIII(G) carrying the Ae. markgrafii chromosomes B, C, D, E, F, and G, respectively, were tested with SSR markers to establish homoeologous relationships to wheat and identify markers useful in chromosome engineering. The addition lines were evaluated for resistance to rust and powdery mildew diseases. The parents Alcedo and Ae. markgrafii accession 'S740-69' were tested with 1500 SSR primer pairs and 935 polymorphic markers were identified. After selecting for robust markers and confirming the polymorphisms on the addition lines, 132 markers were considered useful for engineering and establishing homoeologous relationships. Based on the marker analysis, we concluded that the chromosomes B, C, D, E, F, and G belong to wheat homoeologous groups 2, 5, 6, 7, 3, and 4, respectively. Also, we observed chromosomal rearrangements in several addition lines. When tested with 20 isolates of powdery mildew pathogen (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) from five geographic regions of the United States, four addition lines [AIII(D), AV(E), AIV(F), and AVIII(G)] showed resistance to some isolates, with addition line AV(E) being resistant to 19 of 20 isolates. The addition lines were tested with two races (TDBJ and TNBJ) of the leaf rust pathogen (Puccinia triticina), and only addition line AI(B) exhibited resistance at a level comparable to the Ae. markgrafii parent. Addition lines AII(C) and AIII(D) had been previously identified as resistant to the Ug99 race group of the stem rust pathogen (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici). The addition lines were also tested for resistance to six United States races (PSTv-4, PSTv-14, PSTv-37, PSTv-40, PSTv-51, and PSTv-198) of the stripe rust pathogen (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici); we found no resistance either in Alcedo or any of the addition lines. The homoeologous relationships of the chromosomes in the addition lines, molecular markers located on each chromosome, and disease resistance associated with each chromosome will allow for chromosome engineering of the resistance genes.

Physical mapping of DNA markers linked to stem rust resistance gene Sr47 in durum wheat

Markers linked to stem rust resistance gene Sr47 were physically mapped in three small Aegilops speltoides chromosomal bins. Five markers, including two PCR-based SNP markers, were validated for marker-assisted selection. In durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum), the gene Sr47 derived from Aegilops speltoides conditions resistance to race TTKSK (Ug99) of the stem rust pathogen (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici). Sr47 is carried on small interstitial translocation chromosomes (Ti2BL-2SL-2BL·2BS) in which the Ae. speltoides chromosome 2S segments are divided into four bins in genetic stocks RWG35, RWG36, and RWG37. Our objective was to physically map molecular markers to bins and to determine if any of the molecular markers would be useful in marker-assisted selection (MAS). Durum cultivar Joppa was used as the recurrent parent to produce three BC₂F₂ populations. Each BC₂F₂ plant was genotyped with markers to detect the segment carrying Sr47, and stem rust testing of BC₂F₃ progeny with race TTKSK confirmed the genotyping. Forty-nine markers from published sources, four new SSR markers, and five new STARP (semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR) markers, were evaluated in BC₂F₂ populations for assignment of markers to bins. Sr47 was mapped to bin 3 along with 13 markers. No markers were assigned to bin 1; however, 7 and 13 markers were assigned to bins 2 and 4, respectively. Markers Xrwgs38a, Xmag1729, Xwmc41, Xtnac3119, Xrwgsnp1, and Xrwgsnp4 were found to be useful for MAS of Sr47. However, STARP markers Xrwgsnp1 and Xrwgsnp4 can be used in gel-free systems, and are the preferred markers for high-throughput MAS. The physical mapping data from this study will also be useful for pyramiding Sr47 with other Sr genes on chromosome 2B.

Development of a diagnostic co-dominant marker for stem rust resistance gene Sr47 introgressed from Aegilops speltoides into durum wheat

A robust and diagnostic STS marker for stem rust resistance gene Sr47 was developed and validated for marker-assisted selection. Stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, Pgt) resistance gene Sr47, originally transferred from Aegilops speltoides to durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) line DAS15, confers a high level of resistance to Pgt race TTKSK (Ug99). Recently, the durum Rusty 5D(5B) substitution line was used to reduce the Ae. speltoides segment, and the resulting lines had Sr47 on small Ae. speltoides segments on wheat chromosome arm 2BL. The objective of this study was to develop a robust marker for marker-assisted selection of Sr47. A 200-kb segment of the Brachypodium distachyon genome syntenic with the Sr47 region was used to identify wheat expressed sequence tags (ESTs) homologous to the B. distachyon genes. The wheat EST sequences were then used to develop sequence-tagged site (STS) markers. By analyzing the markers for polymorphism between Rusty and DAS15, we identified a co-dominant STS marker, designated as Xrwgs38, which amplified 175 and 187 bp fragments from wheat chromosome 2B and Ae. speltoides chromosome 2S segments, respectively. The marker co-segregated with the Ae. speltoides segments carrying Sr47 in the families from four BC2F1 plants, including the parent plants for durum lines RWG35 and RWG36 with the pedigree of Rusty/3/Rusty 5D(5B)/DAS15//47-1 5D(5B). Analysis of 62 durum and common wheat cultivars/lines lacking the Sr47 segment indicated that they all possessed the 175-bp allele of Xrwgs38, indicating that it was diagnostic for the small Ae. speltoides segment carrying Sr47. This study demonstrated that Xrwgs38 will facilitate the selection of Sr47 in durum and common wheat breeding.

Development and characterization of wheat lines carrying stem rust resistance gene Sr43 derived from Thinopyrum ponticum

Wheat lines carrying Ug99-effective stem rust resistance gene Sr43 on shortened alien chromosome segments were produced using chromosome engineering, and molecular markers linked to Sr43 were identified for marker-assisted selection. Stem rust resistance gene Sr43, transferred into common wheat (Triticum aestivum) from Thinopyrum ponticum, is an effective gene against stem rust Ug99 races. However, this gene has not been used in wheat breeding because it is located on a large Th. ponticum 7el(2) chromosome segment, which also harbors genes for undesirable traits. The objective of this study was to eliminate excessive Th. ponticum chromatin surrounding Sr43 to make it usable in wheat breeding. The two original translocation lines KS10-2 and KS24-1 carrying Sr43 were first analyzed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and florescent genomic in situ hybridization. Six SSR markers located on wheat chromosome arm 7DL were identified to be associated with the Th. ponticum chromatin in KS10-2 and KS24-1. The results confirmed that KS24-1 is a 7DS·7el(2)L Robertsonian translocation as previously reported. However, KS10-2, which was previously designated as a 7el(2)S·7el(2)L-7DL translocation, was identified as a 7DS-7el(2)S·7el(2)L translocation. To reduce the Th. ponticum chromatin carrying Sr43, a BC(2)F(1) population (Chinese Spring//Chinese Spring ph1bph1b*2/KS10-2) containing ph1b-induced homoeologous recombinants was developed, tested with stem rust, and genotyped with the six SSR markers identified above. Two new wheat lines (RWG33 and RWG34) carrying Sr43 on shortened alien chromosome segments (about 17.5 and 13.7 % of the translocation chromosomes, respectively) were obtained, and two molecular markers linked to Sr43 in these lines were identified. The new wheat lines with Sr43 and the closely linked markers provide new resources for improving resistance to Ug99 and other races of stem rust in wheat.

Introgression and characterization of a goatgrass gene for a high level of resistance to ug99 stem rust in tetraploid wheat

The transfer of alien genes to crop plants using chromosome engineering has been attempted infrequently in tetraploid durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum). Here, we report a highly efficient approach for the transfer of two genes conferring resistance to stem rust race Pgt-TTKSK (Ug99) from goatgrass (Aegilops speltoides) to tetraploid wheat. The durum line DAS15, carrying the stem rust resistance gene Sr47 derived from Ae. speltoides, was crossed, and backcrossed, to durum 5D(5B) aneuploids to induce homeologous pairing. After a final cross to 'Rusty' durum, allosyndetic recombinants were recovered. The Ae. speltoides chromosomal segment carrying Sr47 was found to have two stem rust resistance genes. One gene conditioning an infection type (IT) 2 was located in the same chromosomal region of 2BS as Sr39 and was assigned the temporary gene symbol SrAes7t. Based on ITs observed on a diverse set of rust races, SrAes7t may be the same as Sr39. The second gene conditioned an IT 0; and was located on chromosome arm 2BL. This gene retained the symbol Sr47 because it had a different IT and map location from other stem rust resistance genes derived from Ae. speltoides. Allosyndetic recombinant lines carrying each gene on minimal alien chromosomal segments were identified as were molecular markers distinguishing each alien segment. This study demonstrated that chromosome engineering of Ae. speltoides segments is feasible in tetraploid wheat. The Sr47 gene confers high-level and broad spectrum resistance to stem rust and should be very useful in efforts to control TTKSK.

Resistance to recombinant stem rust race TPPKC in hard red spring wheat

The wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers. f.sp. tritici Eriks. and Henn.) resistance gene SrWld1 conditions resistance to all North American stem rust races and is an important gene in hard red spring (HRS) wheat cultivars. A sexually recombined race having virulence to SrWld1 was isolated in the 1980s. Our objective was to determine the genetics of resistance to the race. The recombinant race was tested with the set of stem rust differentials and with a set of 36 HRS and 6 durum cultivars. Chromosomal location studies in cultivars Len, Coteau, and Stoa were completed using aneuploid analysis, molecular markers, and allelism tests. Stem rust differential tests coded the race as TPPKC, indicating it differed from TPMKC by having added virulence on Sr30 as well as SrWld1. Genes effective against TPPKC were Sr6, Sr9a, Sr9b, Sr13, Sr24, Sr31, and Sr38. Genetic studies of resistance to TPPKC indicated that Len, Coteau, and Stoa likely carried Sr9b, that Coteau and Stoa carried Sr6, and Stoa carried Sr24. Tests of HRS and durum cultivars indicated that five HRS and one durum cultivar were susceptible to TPPKC. Susceptible HRS cultivars were postulated to have SrWld1 as their major stem rust resistance gene. Divide, the susceptible durum cultivar, was postulated to lack Sr13. We concluded that although TPPKC does not constitute a threat similar to TTKSK and its variants, some cultivars would be lost from production if TPPKC became established in the field.

Targeted introgression of a wheat stem rust resistance gene by DNA marker-assisted chromosome engineering

Chromosome engineering is a useful strategy for transfer of alien genes from wild relatives into modern crops. However, this strategy has not been extensively used for alien gene introgression in most crops due to low efficiency of conventional cytogenetic techniques. Here, we report an improved scheme of chromosome engineering for efficient elimination of a large amount of goatgrass (Aegilops speltoides) chromatin surrounding Sr39, a gene that provides resistance to multiple stem rust races, including Ug99 (TTKSK) in wheat. The wheat ph1b mutation, which promotes meiotic pairing between homoeologous chromosomes, was employed to induce recombination between wheat chromosome 2B and goatgrass 2S chromatin using a backcross scheme favorable for inducing and detecting the homoeologous recombinants with small goatgrass chromosome segments. Forty recombinants with Sr39 with reduced surrounding goatgrass chromatin were quickly identified from 1048 backcross progenies through disease screening and molecular marker analysis. Four of the recombinants carrying Sr39 with a minimal amount of goatgrass chromatin (2.87-9.15% of the translocated chromosomes) were verified using genomic in situ hybridization. Approximately 97% of the goatgrass chromatin was eliminated in one of the recombinants, in which a tiny goatgrass chromosome segment containing Sr39 was retained in the wheat genome. Localization of the goatgrass chromatin in the recombinants led to rapid development of three molecular markers tightly linked to Sr39. The new wheat lines and markers provide useful resources for the ongoing global effort to combat Ug99. This study has demonstrated great potential of chromosome engineering in genome manipulation for plant improvement.

Marker-assisted characterization of durum wheat Langdon-Golden Ball disomic substitution lines

The durum wheat cultivar 'Golden Ball' (GB) is a source of resistance to wheat sawfly due to its superior solid stem. In the late 1980s, Dr. Leonard Joppa developed a complete set of 14 'Langdon' (LDN)-GB disomic substitution (DS) lines by using GB as the chromosome donor and LDN as the recipient. However, these substitution lines have not been previously characterized and reported in the literature. The objectives of this study were to confirm the authenticity of the substituted chromosomes and to analyze the genetic background of the 14 LDN-GB DS lines with the aid of molecular markers, and to further use the substitution lines for chromosomal localization of DNA markers and genes conferring the superior stem solidness in GB. Results from simple sequence repeat marker analysis validated the authenticity of the substituted chromosomes in 14 LDN-GB DS lines. Genome-wide scans using the target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) marker system produced a total of 359 polymorphic fragments that were used to compare the genetic background of substitution lines with that of LDN. Among the polymorphic TRAP markers, 134 (37.3%) and 185 (51.5%) were present in LDN and GB, respectively, with only 10 (2.8%) derived from Chinese Spring. Therefore, marker analysis demonstrated that each LDN-GB DS line had a pair of chromosomes from GB with a genetic background similar to that of LDN. Of the TRAP markers generated in this study, 200 were successfully assigned to specific chromosomes based on their presence or absence in the corresponding LDN-GB DS lines. Also, evaluation of stem solidness in the substitution lines verified the presence of a major gene for stem solidness in chromosome 3B. Results from this research provides useful information for the utilization of GB and LDN-GB DS lines for genetic and genomic studies in tetraploid wheat and for the improvement of stem solidness in both durum and bread wheat.

Molecular characterization and chromosome-specific TRAP-marker development for Langdon durum D-genome disomic substitution lines

The aneuploid stocks of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husnot) and common wheat (T. aestivum L.) have been developed mainly in 'Langdon' (LDN) and 'Chinese Spring' (CS) cultivars, respectively. The LDN-CS D-genome chromosome disomic substitution (LDN-DS) lines, where a pair of CS D-genome chromosomes substitute for a corresponding homoeologous A- or B-genome chromosome pair of LDN, have been widely used to determine the chromosomal locations of genes in tetraploid wheat. The LDN-DS lines were originally developed by crossing CS nulli-tetrasomics with LDN, followed by 6 backcrosses with LDN. They have subsequently been improved with 5 additional backcrosses with LDN. The objectives of this study were to characterize a set of the 14 most recent LDN-DS lines and to develop chromosome-specific markers, using the newly developed TRAP (target region amplification polymorphism)-marker technique. A total of 307 polymorphic DNA fragments were amplified from LDN and CS, and 302 of them were assigned to individual chromosomes. Most of the markers (95.5%) were present on a single chromosome as chromosome-specific markers, but 4.5% of the markers mapped to 2 or more chromosomes. The number of markers per chromosome varied, from a low of 10 (chromosomes 1A and 6D) to a high of 24 (chromosome 3A). There was an average of 16.6, 16.6, and 15.9 markers per chromosome assigned to the A-, B-, and D-genome chromosomes, respectively, suggesting that TRAP markers were detected at a nearly equal frequency on the 3 genomes. A comparison of the source of the expressed sequence tags (ESTs), used to derive the fixed primers, with the chromosomal location of markers revealed that 15.5% of the TRAP markers were located on the same chromosomes as the ESTs used to generate the fixed primers. A fixed primer designed from an EST mapped on a chromosome or a homoeologous group amplified at least 1 fragment specific to that chromosome or group, suggesting that the fixed primers might generate markers from target regions. TRAP-marker analysis verified the retention of at least 13 pairs of A- or B-genome chromosomes from LDN and 1 pair of D-genome chromosomes from CS in each of the LDN-DS lines. The chromosome-specific markers developed in this study provide an identity for each of the chromosomes, and they will facilitate molecular and genetic characterization of the individual chromosomes, including genetic mapping and gene identification.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization and seed storage protein analysis of 1A/1D translocation lines of durum wheat

Two durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] lines carrying the high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits (GS) 1 D x 5 + 1Dy10 encoded by Glu-D1d, L252 and S99B34, were characterized using fluorescent genomic in-situ hybridization (FGISH) and microsatellite markers. These two durum lines were derived from the crosses in which the common wheat (T. aestivum L.) 'Len' and durum wheat 'Langdon' (LDN) and 'Renville' were involved. FGISH patterns of the mitotic chromosomes indicated that these two durum lines have one pair of 1AS.1AL-1DL translocated chromosomes in which the terminal region of 1AL was replaced by a homoeologous segment of 1DL. The 1DL segment spans approximately 31% of the long arm of the translocated chromosome. Microsatellite marker analysis confirmed the 1AS.1AL-1DL translocation and determined the translocation breakpoint to be distal to Xgwm357 on 1AL. Seed storage proteins (GS and gliadins) were analysed in these two 1AS.1AL-1DL translocation lines and three sib lines (L092, S99B19 and S99B33) using SDS-PAGE and A-PAGE. The SDS-PAGE and A-PAGE profiles demonstrated that the two low yielding lines (L252 and S99B19) had the low-molecular-weight (LMW) -1 GS encoded by Glu-A3k and Glu-B3s and 1B-encoded gliadins from LDN, and the other three lines (L092, S99B33 and S99B34) with higher yield had LMW-2 GS and 1B-encoded gliadins from Renville, suggesting that undesirable genetic components from LDN might limit substantial improvement of yield. Thus, the translocation lines with 1 D x 5 + 1Dy10 and LMW-2, which are associated with good bread-making and pasta qualities, respectively, in a good genetic background will be useful for developing durum cultivars with dual-purpose end-use. Results from this study demonstrate that the D-genome could play an important role in the genetic improvement of durum wheat and evolution of the A- and B-genomes in tetraploid wheat.

Chromosomal location of genes for novel glutenin subunits and gliadins in wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides)

The glutenin and gliadin proteins of wild emmer wheat, Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides, have potential for improvement of durum wheat ( T. turgidum L. var. durum) quality. The objective of this study was to determine the chromosomes controlling the high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits and gliadin proteins present in three T. turgidum var. dicoccoides accessions (Israel-A, PI-481521, and PI-478742), which were used as chromosome donors in Langdon durum- T. turgidum var. dicoccoides (LDN-DIC) chromosome substitution lines. The three T. turgidum var. dicoccoides accessions, their respective LDN-DIC substitution lines, and a number of controls with known HMW glutenin subunits were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), urea/SDS-PAGE, and acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (A-PAGE). The results revealed that all three T. turgidum var. dicoccoides accessions possess Glu-A1 alleles that are the same as or similar to those reported previously. However, each T. turgidum var. dicoccoides accession had a unique Glu-B1 allele. PI-478742 had an unusual 1Bx subunit, which had mobility slightly slower than the 1Ax subunit in 12% SDS-PAGE gels. The subunits controlled by chromosome 1B of PI-481521 were slightly faster in mobility than the subunits of the Glu-B1n allele, and the 1By subunit was identified as band 8. The 1B subunits of Israel-A had similar mobility to subunits 14 and 16. The new Glu-B1 alleles were designated as Glu-B1be in Israel-A, Glu-B1bf in PI-481521, and Glu-B1bg in PI-478742. Results from A-PAGE revealed that PI-481521, PI-478742, and Israel-A had eight, 12, and nine unique gliadin bands, respectively, that were assigned to specific chromosomes. The identified glutenin subunits and gliadin proteins in the LDN-DIC substitution lines provide the basis for evaluating their effects on end-use quality, and they are also useful biochemical markers for identifying specific chromosomes or chromosome segments of T. turgidum var. dicoccoides.

Characterization of a mitotic mutant of durum wheat

An ethyl methanesulfonate-induced mitotic mutant of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum; 2n = 4x = 28) was found. We have characterized the mutant to determine the mechanism of abnormal cell division and to test for temperature effects on abnormal cell division. Stained root-tip meristems and pollen mother cells were studied with brightfield, phase contrast, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Abnormal cells included metaphase cells with a multiple of the normal complement (8x = 56, or 16x = 112), multinucleate cells, 4C, 8C, or 16C mononucleate cells, and cells exhibiting incomplete cytokinesis. The mutant had three classes of pollen mother cells: euploid with normal bivalent pairing, multiploid with bivalent pairing, and multiploid with multivalent pairing. Preprophase bands and spindles were normal in mononucleate cells. Some cells had asymmetrical phragmoplasts and phragmoplast dismantling that produced incomplete cytokinesis. Failure of cytokinesis followed by nuclear fusion were the mechanisms of abnormal cell division. To test for temperature sensitivity of the mutant, seedlings were germinated under six different temperature regimes. As germination temperature increased, the frequency of abnormal cells increased. When the mutant was crossed as the female with durum wheat, 3% of hybrids were hexaploid, indicating that functional-unreduced gametes had formed in megaspores.