scholarly journals Engineered Durum Wheat Germplasm with Multiple Alien Introgressions: Agronomic and Quality Performance

Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kuzmanović ◽  
Francesco Rossini ◽  
Roberto Ruggeri ◽  
Mario A. Pagnotta ◽  
Carla Ceoloni

If genetic gains in wheat yield are to be achieved in today’s breeding, increasing genetic variability of cultivated genotypes is an essential requisite to meet. To this aim, alien gene transfer through chromosome engineering (CE) is a validated and sound strategy. Attempts to incorporate more than one alien segment into cultivated wheat have been rare, particularly for tetraploid durum wheat. Here we present the agronomic and quality performance of the first successful CE-mediated multiple introgression into the latter species. By assembling into 7AL, 3BS and 1AS arms of a single genotype homoeologous segments of Thinopyrum ponticum 7el1L, Aegilops longissima 3SlS, and Triticum aestivum 1DS arms, respectively, we have stacked several valuable alien genes, comprising Lr19+Sr25+Yp (leaf and stem rust resistance and a gene increasing semolina yellowness), Pm13 (powdery mildew resistance) and Gli-D1/Glu-D3 (genes affecting gluten properties), respectively. Advanced progenies of single, double and triple recombinants were field-tested across three years in a typical durum wheat growing area of Central Italy. The results showed that not only all recombinants had normal phenotype and fertility, but also that one of the triple recombinants had the highest yield through all seasons compared with all other recombinants and control cultivars. Moreover, the multiple introgressions enhanced quality traits, including gluten characteristics and semolina yellow index. Presence of effective disease resistance genes confers additional breeding value to the novel and functional CE products, which can greatly contribute to crop security and safety.

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kuzmanović ◽  
Francesco Rossini ◽  
Roberto Ruggeri ◽  
Mario A. Pagnotta ◽  
Carla Ceoloni

If genetic gains in wheat yield are to be achieved in today’s breeding, increasing the genetic variability of cultivated genotypes is an essential requisite to meet. To this aim, alien gene transfer through chromosome engineering (CE) is a validated and sound strategy. Attempts to incorporate more than one alien segment into cultivated wheat have been rare, particularly for tetraploid durum wheat. Here, we present the agronomic and quality performance of the first successful CE-mediated multiple introgression into the latter species. By assembling into 7AL, 3BS, and 1AS arms of a single genotype homoeologous segments of Thinopyrum ponticum 7el1L, Aegilops longissima 3SlS, and Triticum aestivum 1DS arms, respectively, we have stacked several valuable alien genes, comprising Lr19+Sr25+Yp (leaf and stem rust resistance and a gene increasing semolina yellowness), Pm13 (powdery mildew resistance), and Gli-D1/Glu-D3 (genes affecting gluten properties), respectively. Advanced progenies of single, double, and triple recombinants were field-tested across three years in a typical durum wheat growing area of central Italy. The results showed that not only all recombinants had normal phenotype and fertility, but also that one of the triple recombinants had the highest yield through all seasons compared with all other recombinants and control cultivars. Moreover, the multiple introgressions enhanced quality traits, including gluten characteristics and semolina yellow index. The presence of effective disease resistance genes confers additional breeding value to the novel and functional CE products, which can greatly contribute to crop security and safety.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1299
Author(s):  
Silvia Pampana ◽  
Marco Mariotti

In nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs), site-specific techniques are needed to match N availability with durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum Desf.) requirements. Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers can improve efficient N supply and reduce leaching, contributing to sustainable agriculture. Two-year field experiments were carried out at two Mediterranean nitrate vulnerable zones in Central Italy (Pisa and Arezzo) to study the effects of nitrogen sources, timings, and application rates. The trial compared: (i) three N sources for the first topdressing application (urea, methylene urea, and urea with the nitrification inhibitor DMPP); (ii) two stages for the first topdressing N application (1st tiller visible—BBCH21 and 1st node detectable—BBCH31); (iii) two N rates: one based on the crop N requirements (Optimal—NO), the other based on action programme prescriptions of the two NVZs (Action Programme—NAP). Grain yield and yield components were determined, together with N uptake. The results showed that: (i) grain and biomass production were reduced with NAP at both locations; (ii) urea performed better than slow-release fertilizers; (iii) the best application time depended on the N source and location: in Pisa, enhanced-efficiency fertilizers achieved higher yields when applied earliest, while for urea the opposite was true; in Arezzo different N fertilizers showed similar performances between the two application timings. Different behaviors of topdressing fertilizers at the two localities could be related to the diverse patterns of temperatures and rainfall. Thus, optimal fertilization strategies would seem to vary according to environmental conditions.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 579
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kuzmanović ◽  
Gloria Giovenali ◽  
Roberto Ruggeri ◽  
Francesco Rossini ◽  
Carla Ceoloni

Today wheat cultivation is facing rapidly changing climate scenarios and yield instability, aggravated by the spreading of severe diseases such as Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Fusarium crown rot (FCR). To obtain productive genotypes resilient to stress pressure, smart breeding approaches must be envisaged, including the exploitation of wild relatives. Here we report on the assessment of the breeding potential of six durum wheat-Thinopyrum spp. recombinant lines (RLs) obtained through chromosome engineering. They are characterized by having 23% or 28% of their 7AL chromosome arm replaced by a “nested” alien segment, composed of homoeologous group 7 chromosome fractions from Th. ponticum and Th. elongatum (=7el1L + 7EL) or from different Th. ponticum accessions (=7el1L + 7el2L). In addition to the 7el1L genes Lr19 + Yp (leaf rust resistance, and yellow pigment content, respectively), these recombinant lines (RLs) possess a highly effective QTL for resistance to FHB and FCR within their 7el2L or 7EL portion. The RLs, their null segregants and well-adapted and productive durum wheat cultivars were evaluated for 16 yield-related traits over two seasons under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The absence of yield penalties and excellent genetic stability of RLs was revealed in the presence of all the alien segment combinations. Both 7el2L and 7EL stacked introgressions had positive impacts on source and sink yield traits, as well as on the overall performance of RLs in conditions of reduced water availability. The four “nested” RLs tested in 2020 were among the top five yielders, overall representing good candidates to be employed in breeding programs to enhance crop security and safety.


Author(s):  
Silvia Pampana ◽  
Marco Mariotti

In Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) site-specific techniques are needed to match N availability with durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum Desf.) requirements. Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEF) can improve efficient N supply and reduce leaching, thus contributing to sustainable agriculture. To study the effects of rates, sources and timings of nitrogen application, two-year field experiments were carried out at two Mediterranean NVZs of Central Italy (Pisa and Arezzo). The trial compared: i) two N rates: one based on the crop N requirements (NO), the other on the Action Programmes’ prescriptions of the two NVZ (NAP); ii) three N sources (urea, methylene urea (MU), and nitrification inhibitor (NI) 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP); and two top-dressing timings (1st tiller visible and 1st node detectable). Grain yield and yield components were determined, together with N uptake. Results showed that: i) grain and biomass production were reduced with NAP at both locations; ii) urea performed better than slow-release fertilizers; iii) the best application time varied depending on N source and location: at Pisa enhanced-efficiency fertilizers achieved higher yields when applied earliest, while for urea the contrary was true; at Arezzo different N fertilizers showed similar performances between the two application timings. Different behaviors of top-dressing fertilizers at the two localities could be related to the diverse patterns of temperatures and rainfall. Therefore, optimal fertilization strategies vary according to environmental conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Dalla Marta ◽  
Francesca Orlando ◽  
Marco Mancini ◽  
Federico Guasconi ◽  
Ray Motha ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haipei Liu ◽  
Amanda J. Able ◽  
Jason A. Able

AbstractWater-deficit stress negatively affects wheat yield and quality. Abiotic stress on parental plants during reproduction may have transgenerational effects on progeny. Here we investigated the transgenerational influence of pre-anthesis water-deficit stress by detailed analysis of the yield components, grain quality traits, and physiological traits in durum wheat. Next-generation sequencing analysis profiled the small RNA-omics, mRNA transcriptomics, and mRNA degradomics in first generation progeny. Parental water-deficit stress had positive impacts on the progeny for traits including harvest index and protein content in the less stress-tolerant variety. Small RNA-seq identified 1739 conserved and 774 novel microRNAs (miRNAs). Transcriptome-seq characterised the expression of 66,559 genes while degradome-seq profiled the miRNA-guided mRNA cleavage dynamics. Differentially expressed miRNAs and genes were identified, with significant regulatory patterns subject to trans- and inter-generational stress. Integrated analysis using three omics platforms revealed significant biological interactions between stress-responsive miRNA and targets, with transgenerational stress tolerance potentially contributed via pathways such as hormone signalling and nutrient metabolism. Our study provides the first confirmation of the transgenerational effects of water-deficit stress in durum wheat. New insights gained at the molecular level indicate that key miRNA-mRNA modules are candidates for transgenerational stress improvement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-163
Author(s):  
S Sapkota ◽  
D Kc ◽  
H Giri ◽  
M Saud ◽  
M Basnet ◽  
...  

The present research was conducted on two factor Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with eight treatments and three replications. A set of experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of postharvest ethephon treatment and packaging on ripening of mango cv. Maldah. The treatments consisted of ripening agent i.e., ethephon and control treatment under different packaging condition i.e., fiber with hole, fiber without hole, plastic with hole and plastic without hole. The result revealed that different packaging condition and ripening agents influenced the ripening behavior of mango. The highest TSS (15.26), sugar-acid ratio (23.66) and juice content (126.05) were recorded with fiber (without hole) and the lowest TSS (12.60), sugar-acid ratio (9.01) and juice content (116.05) with plastic (without hole). The highest TA (1.44) was recorded with plastic (without hole) and the lowest (0.66) with fiber (without hole). Similarly, the highest BT (2.83) was recorded with fiber (with hole) and the lowest (1.66) with plastic (without hole). Firmness, sweetness, TSS and juice content were the highest with the interaction effect of fiber bag (without hole) and ethephon treatment. In conclusion, mango fruits with ethephon treatment packed in fiber bag (without hole) enhances quality and ripening of mango whereas under controlled condition and without hole plastic packaging mangoes had low quality performance in terms of physio-chemical properties. SAARC J. Agric., 19(1): 155-163 (2021)


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Stelluti ◽  
Angelo Caliandro ◽  
Anna Maria Stellacci

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Alahmad ◽  
Yichen Kang ◽  
Eric Dinglasan ◽  
Elisabetta Mazzucotelli ◽  
Kai P. Voss-Fels ◽  
...  

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) production can experience significant yield losses due to crown rot (CR) disease. Losses are usually exacerbated when disease infection coincides with terminal drought. Durum wheat is very susceptible to CR, and resistant germplasm is not currently available in elite breeding pools. We hypothesize that deploying physiological traits for drought adaptation, such as optimal root system architecture to reduce water stress, might minimize losses due to CR infection. This study evaluated a subset of lines from a nested association mapping population for stay-green traits, CR incidence and yield in field experiments as well as root traits under controlled conditions. Weekly measurements of normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) in the field were used to model canopy senescence and to determine stay-green traits for each genotype. Genome-wide association studies using DArTseq molecular markers identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosome 6B (qCR-6B) associated with CR tolerance and stay-green. We explored the value of qCR-6B and a major QTL for root angle QTL qSRA-6A using yield datasets from six rainfed environments, including two environments with high CR disease pressure. In the absence of CR, the favorable allele for qSRA-6A provided an average yield advantage of 0.57 t·ha−1, whereas in the presence of CR, the combination of favorable alleles for both qSRA-6A and qCR-6B resulted in a yield advantage of 0.90 t·ha−1. Results of this study highlight the value of combining above- and belowground physiological traits to enhance yield potential. We anticipate that these insights will assist breeders to design improved durum varieties that mitigate production losses due to water deficit and CR.


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