Map-based cloning of the novel stripe rust resistance gene YrG303 and its use to engineer 1B chromosome with multiple beneficial traits

Author(s):  
Tzion Fahima ◽  
Jorge Dubcovsky

Research problem: Bread wheat (Triticumaestivum) provides approximately 20% of the calories and proteins consumed by humankind. As the world population continues to increase, it is necessary to improve wheat yields, increase grain quality, and minimize the losses produced by biotic and abiotic stresses. Stripe rust, caused by Pucciniastriiformisf. sp. tritici(Pst), is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat. The new pathogen races are more virulent and aggressive than previous ones and have produced large economic losses. A rich source for stripe-rust resistance genes (Yr) was found in wild emmer wheat populations from Israel. Original Project goals: Our long term goal is to identify, map, clone, characterize and deploy in breeding, novel wild emmer Yr genes, and combine them with multiple beneficial traits. The current study was aiming to map and clone YrG303 and Yr15, located on chromosome 1BS and combine them with drought resistance and grain quality genes. Positional cloning of YrG303/Yr15: Fine mapping of these genes revealed that YrG303 is actually allelic to Yr15. Fine genetic mapping using large segregating populations resulted in reduction of the genetic interval spanning Yr15 to less than 0.1 cM. Physical mapping of the YrG303/Yr15 locus was based on the complete chromosome 1BS physical map of wheat constructed by our group. Screening of 1BS BAC library with Yr15 markers revealed a long BAC scaffold covering the target region. The screening of T. dicoccoidesaccession-specific BAC library with Yr15 markers resulted in direct landing on the target site. Sequencing of T. dicoccoidesBAC clones that cover the YrG303/Yr15 locus revealed a single candidate gene (CG) with conserved domains that may indicate a role in disease resistance response. Validation of the CG was carried out using EMS mutagenesis (loss-of- function approach). Sequencing of the CG in susceptible yr15/yrG303 plants revealed three independent mutants that harbour non-functional yr15/yrG303 alleles within the CG conserved domains, and therefore validated its function as a Pstresistance gene. Evaluation of marker-assisted-selection (MAS) for Yr15. Introgressions of Yr15 into cultivated wheat are widely used now. Recently, we have shown that DNA markers linked to Yr15 can be used as efficient tools for introgression of Yr15 into cultivated wheat via MAS. The developed markers were consistent and polymorphic in all 34 tested introgressions and are the most recommended markers for the introgression of Yr15. These markers will facilitate simultaneous selection for multiple Yr genes and help to avoid escapees during the selection process. Engineering of improved chromosome 1BS that harbors multiple beneficial traits. We have implemented the knowledge and genetic resources accumulated in this project for the engineering of 1B "super-chromosome" that harbors multiple beneficial traits. We completed the generation of a chromosome including the rye 1RS distal segment associated with improved drought tolerance with the Yr gene, Yr15, and the strong gluten allele 7Bx-over-expressor (7Bxᴼᴱ). We have completed the introgression of this improved chromosome into our recently released variety Patwin-515HP and our rain fed variety Kern, as well as to our top breeding lines UC1767 and UC1745. Elucidating the mechanism of resistance exhibited by Yr36 (WKS1). The WHEAT KINASE START1 (WKS1) resistance gene (Yr36) confers partial resistance to Pst. We have shown that wheat plants transformed with WKS1 transcript are resistant to Pst. WKS1 is targeted to the chloroplast where it phosphorylates the thylakoid-associatedascorbateperoxidase (tAPX) and reduces its ability to detoxify peroxides. Based on these results, we propose that the phosphorylation of tAPX by WKS1 reduces the ability of the cells to detoxify ROS and contributes to cell death. Distribution and diversity of WKS in wild emmer populations. We have shown that WKS1 is present only in the southern distribution range of wild emmer in the Fertile Crescent. Sequence analysis revealed a high level of WKS1 conservation among wild emmer populations, in contrast to the high level of diversity observed in NB-LRR genes. This phenomenon shed some light on the evolution of genes that confer partial resistance to Pst. Three new WKS1 haplotypes displayed a resistance response, suggesting that they can be useful to improve wheat resistance to Pst. In summary, we have improved our understanding of cereals’ resistance mechanisms to rusts and we have used that knowledge to develop improved wheat varieties. 

Genome ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 922-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Luo ◽  
X. Y. Hu ◽  
Z. L. Ren ◽  
H. Y. Zhang ◽  
K. Shu ◽  
...  

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiormis Westend f. sp. tritici, is one of the most important foliar diseases of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Stripe rust resistance genes Yr27, Yr31, YrSp, YrV23, and YrCN19 on chromosome 2BS confer resistance to some or all Chinese P. striiormis f. sp. tritici races CYR31, CYR32, SY11-4, and SY11-14 in the greenhouse. To screen microsatellite (SSR) markers linked with YrCN19, F1, F2, and F3 populations derived from cross Ch377/CN19 were screened with race CYR32 and 35 SSR primer pairs. Linkage analysis indicated that the single dominant gene YrCN19 in cultivar CN19 was linked with SSR markers Xgwm410, Xgwm374, Xwmc477, and Xgwm382 on chromosome 2BS with genetic distances of 0.3, 7.9, 12.3, and 21.2 cM, respectively. Crosses of CN19 with wheat lines carrying other genes on chromosome 2B showed that all were located at different loci. YrCN19 is thus different from the other reported Yr genes in chromosomal location and resistance response and was therefore named Yr41. Prospects and strategies of using Yr41 and other Yr genes in wheat improvement for stripe rust resistance are discussed.


Genome ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1028-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Ling ◽  
X M Chen

A hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was constructed for cloning Yr5 and other genes conferring resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici). Intact nuclei from a Yr5 near-isogenic line were used to isolate high molecular weight DNA, which was partially cleaved with HindIII and cloned into pECBAC1 and pIndigoBAC-5 vectors. The wheat BAC library consisted of 422 400 clones arrayed in 1100 micro-titer plates (each plate with 384 wells). Random sampling of 300 BAC clones indicated an average insert size of 140 kb, with a size range from 25 to 365 kb. Ninety percent of the clones in the library had an insert size greater than 100 kb and fewer than 5% of the clones did not contain inserts. Based on an estimated genome size of 15 966 Mb for hexaploid wheat, the BAC library was estimated to have a total coverage of 3.58× wheat genome equivalents, giving approximately 96% probability of identifying a clone representing any given wheat DNA sequence. Twelve BAC clones containing an Yr5 locus-specific marker (Yr5STS7/8) were successfully selected by PCR screening of 3-dimensional BAC pools. The results demonstrated that the T. aestivum BAC library is a valuable genomic resource for positional cloning of Yr5. The library also should be useful in cloning other genes for stripe rust resistance and other traits of interest in hexaploid wheat.Key words: BAC library, BAC pools, hexaploid wheat, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, resistance gene, stripe rust, Triticum aestivum.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenzhong Wang ◽  
Jingzhong Xie ◽  
Li Guo ◽  
Deyun Zhang ◽  
Genqiao Li ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a devastating disease that can cause severe yield losses. Identification and utilization of stripe rust resistance genes are essential for effective breeding against the disease. Wild emmer accession TZ-2, originally collected from Mount Hermon, Israel, confers near-immunity resistance against several prevailing Pst races in China. A set of 200 F6:7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between susceptible durum wheat cultivar Langdon and TZ-2 was used for stripe rust evaluation. Genetic analysis indicated that the stripe rust resistance of TZ-2 to Pst race CYR34 was controlled by a single dominant gene, temporarily designated YrTZ2. Through bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and SSR mapping, YrTZ2 was located on chromosome arm 1BS and flanked by SSR markers Xwmc230 and Xgwm413 with genetic distance of 0.8 cM (distal) and 0.3 cM (proximal), respectively. By applying wheat 90K iSelect SNP genotyping assay, 11 polymorphic loci (consist of 250 SNP markers) closely linked with YrTZ2 were identified. YrTZ2 was further delimited into a 0.8 cM genetic interval between SNP marker IWB19368 and SSR marker Xgwm413, and co-segregated with SNP marker IWB28744 (attached with 28 SNP markers). Comparative genomics analyses revealed high level of collinearity between the YrTZ2 genomic region and the orthologous region of Aegilops tauschii 1DS. The genomic region between loci IWB19368 and IWB31649 harboring YrTZ2 is orthologous to a 24.5 Mb genomic region between AT1D0112 and AT1D0150, spanning 15 contigs on chromosome 1DS. The genetic and comparative maps of YrTZ2 provide framework for map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection (MAS) of YrTZ2.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan Sela ◽  
Eduard Akhunov ◽  
Brian J. Steffenson

The primary goals of this project were: (1) development of a genetically characterized association panel of wild emmer for high resolution analysis of the genetic basis of complex traits; (2) characterization and mapping of genes and QTL for seedling and adult plant resistance to stripe rust in wild emmer populations; (3) characterization of LD patterns along wild emmer chromosomes; (4) elucidation of the multi-locus genetic structure of wild emmer populations and its correlation with geo-climatic variables at the collection sites. Introduction In recent years, Stripe (yellow) rust (Yr) caused by Pucciniastriiformis f. sp. tritici(PST) has become a major threat to wheat crops in many parts of the world. New races have overcome most of the known resistances. It is essential, therefore, that the search for new genes will continue, followed by their mapping by molecular markers and introgression into the elite varieties by marker-assisted selection (MAS). The reservoir of genes for disease and pest resistance in wild emmer wheat (Triticumdicoccoides) is an important resource that must be made available to wheat breeders. The majority of resistance genes that were introgressed so far in cultivated wheat are resistance (R) genes. These genes, though confering near-immunity from the seedling stage, are often overcome by the pathogen in a short period after being deployed over vast production areas. On the other hand, adult-plant resistance (APR) is usually more durable since it is, in many cases, polygenic and confers partial resistance that may put less selective pressure on the pathogen. In this project, we have screened a collection of 480 wild emmer accessions originating from Israel for APR and seedling resistance to PST. Seedling resistance was tested against one Israeli and 3 North American PST isolates. APR was tested on accessions that did not have seedling resistance. The APR screen was conducted in two fields in Israel and in one field in the USA over 3 years for a total of 11 replicates. We have found about 20 accessions that have moderate stripe rust APR with infection type (IT<5), and about 20 additional accessions that have novel seedling resistance (IT<3). We have genotyped the collection using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and the 90K SNP chip array. GBS yielded a total 341K SNP that were filtered to 150K informative SNP. The 90K assay resulted in 11K informative SNP. We have conducted a genome-wide association scan (GWAS) and found one significant locus on 6BL ( -log p >5). Two novel loci were found for seedling resistance. Further investigation of the 6BL locus and the effect of Yr36 showed that the 6BL locus and the Yr36 have additive effect and that the presence of favorable alleles of both loci results in reduction of 2 grades in the IT score. To identify alleles conferring adaption to extreme climatic conditions, we have associated the patterns of genomic variation in wild emmer with historic climate data from the accessions’ collection sites. The analysis of population stratification revealed four genetically distinct groups of wild emmer accessions coinciding with their geographic distribution. Partitioning of genomic variance showed that geographic location and climate together explain 43% of SNPs among emmer accessions with 19% of SNPs affected by climatic factors. The top three bioclimatic factors driving SNP distribution were temperature seasonality, precipitation seasonality, and isothermality. Association mapping approaches revealed 57 SNPs associated with these bio-climatic variables. Out of 21 unique genomic regions controlling heading date variation, 10 (~50%) overlapped with SNPs showing significant association with at least one of the three bioclimatic variables. This result suggests that a substantial part of the genomic variation associated with local adaptation in wild emmer is driven by selection acting on loci regulating flowering. Conclusions: Wild emmer can serve as a good source for novel APR and seedling R genes for stripe rust resistance. APR for stripe rust is a complex trait conferred by several loci that may have an additive effect. GWAS is feasible in the wild emmer population, however, its detection power is limited. A panel of wild emmer tagged with more than 150K SNP is available for further GWAS of important traits. The insights gained by the bioclimatic-gentic associations should be taken into consideration when planning conservation strategies.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document