Aegilops tauschii Accessions with Geographically Diverse Origin Show Differences in Chromosome Organization and Polymorphism of Molecular Markers Linked to Leaf Rust and Powdery Mildew Resistance Genes

The presence of genes for resistance to scab (Venturia inaequalis) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) was studied using molecular markers in a sample of 279 apple cultivars from the Czech collection of apple genetic resources. The sample comprised 37 cultivars supposed to have the Vf gene for scab resistance, 97 reference world cultivars and 145 old and local cultivars. Six PCR molecular markers for the scab resistance genes Vf, Vm, Vbj, Vr and Vh and three PCR molecular markers for the powdery mildew resistance genes Pl-w, Pl-1 and Pl-d were used. The marker for the major scab resistance gene Vf was detected in all cultivars supposed to have Vf, except in Romus 1, and in the three small-fruited cultivars Malus Evereste, Golden Gem and Hilleri. The markers of the Vr and Vh scab resistance genes were detected in 22 cultivars in combination with the marker for Vf, in 56 reference world cultivars and in 82 old and local apple cultivars. PCR molecular markers for one or two of the powdery mildew resistance genes were detected in the small-fruited cultivars Malus Evereste, Golden Gem, prof. Sprengeri and Hilleri; and in the larger fruited cultivars Hagloe Crab, Borovinka and Tita Zetei. We did not find markers for the scab resistance genes Vm and Vbj in any of the studied cultivars. They are absent also in the remaining part of the Czech collection of apple genetic resources. PCR molecular markers are useful tools for the identification of resistance genes within apple germplasm collections and can be used to increase the number of sources for disease resistance in breeding programmes.

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Introgression of the Powdery Mildew Resistance Genes Pm60 and Pm60b from Triticum urartu to Common Wheat Using Durum as a ‘Bridge’

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens11010025 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

Qiang Zhang ◽

Yinghui Li ◽

Yiwen Li ◽

Tzion Fahima ◽

Qian-Hua Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Markers ◽

Powdery Mildew ◽

Common Wheat ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Powdery Mildew Resistance ◽

Resistance Breeding ◽

Introgression Lines ◽

Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat ◽

Triticum Urartu ◽

Mildew Resistance

Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), has limited wheat yields in many major wheat-production areas across the world. Introducing resistance genes from wild relatives into cultivated wheat can enrich the genetic resources for disease resistance breeding. The powdery mildew resistance gene Pm60 was first identified in diploid wild wheat Triticum urartu (T. urartu). In this study, we used durum as a ‘bridge’ approach to transfer Pm60 and Pm60b into hexaploid common wheat. Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW, AABBAuAu), developed by crossing T. urartu (AuAu) with durum (AABB), was used for crossing and backcrossing with common wheat. The Pm60 alleles were tracked by molecular markers and the resistance to powdery mildew. From BC1F1 backcross populations, eight recombinant types were identified based on five Pm60-flanking markers, which indicated different sizes of the introgressed chromosome segments from T. urartu. Moreover, we have selected two resistance-harboring introgression lines with high self-fertility, which could be easily used in wheat breeding system. Our results showed that the durum was an excellent ‘bridge’ for introducing the target gene from diploid T. urartu into the hexaploid cultivated wheat. Moreover, these introgression lines could be deployed in wheat resistance breeding programs, together with the assistance of the molecular markers for Pm60 alleles.

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Physical Mapping of Pm57, a Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene Derived from Aegilops searsii

10.20944/preprints201912.0322.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Zhenjie Dong ◽

Xiubin Tian ◽

Chao Ma ◽

Qing Xia ◽

Beilin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Markers ◽

Powdery Mildew ◽

Binding Site ◽

Resistance Gene ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Powdery Mildew Resistance ◽

Nucleotide Binding ◽

Leucine Rich Repeat ◽

Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene ◽

Mildew Resistance

Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is one of many severe diseases that threaten bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality worldwide. The discovery and deployment of powdery mildew resistance genes (Pm) can prevent this disease epidemic in wheat. In a previous study, we transferred the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm57 from Aegilops searsii into common wheat and cytogenetically mapped the gene in a chromosome region with the fraction length (FL) 0.75-0.87, which represents 12% of 2Ss#1 segment on the long arm of chromosome 2Ss#1. In this study, we performed RNA-Seq on three infected and mock-infected wheat-Ae. searsii 2Ss#1 introgression lines with Bgt-isolates inoculation at 0, 12, 24, and 48 hours after inoculation. Then we designed 79 molecular markers based on transcriptome sequences and physically mapped them to Ae. searsii chromosome 2Ss#1- in seven intervals. We used these markers to identify 46 wheat-Ae. searsii 2Ss#1 recombinants induced by ph1b, a deletion mutant of pairing homoelogous (Ph) genes. Analysis of the 46 ph1b-induced 2Ss#1L recombinants with different Bgt-responses using 28 2Ss#1L-specific molecular markers in the interval FL0.72-0.87 where Pm57 is located, and the flanking intervals, we physically mapped Pm57 gene on the long arm of 2Ss#1 in a 5.13 Mb genomic region, which was flanked by markers X67593 (773.72 Mb) and X62492 (778.85 Mb). By comparative synteny analysis of the corresponding region on chromosome 2B in Chinese spring (T. aestivum L.) with other model species we identified ten genes that are putative plant defense-related (R) genes which includes six coiled-coil nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (CNL), three nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NL) and a leucine-rich receptor-like repeat (RLP) encoding proteins. This study will lay a foundation for further cloning of Pm57, and benefit the understanding of interactions between resistance genes of wheat and powdery mildew pathogens.

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