ARS | Publication request: MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN WANGSHUIBAI WITH SSR AND AFLP MARKERS

Submitted to: Genome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 12, 2004
Publication Date: December 3, 2004
Citation: Zhou, W., Kolb, F., Yu, J., Bai, G., Boze, L., Domier, L.L. 2004. Molecular characterization of fusarium head blight resistance in wangshuibai with ssr and aflp markers. Genome. 47:1137-1143.

Interpretive Summary: Molecular characterization of resistance genes to FHB in wheat and using molecular markers to select for these genes will aid in the development of FHB resistant cultivars. Most reported FHB resistance genes are from Sumai 3, a Chinese resistant cultivar, and its derivatives. Wangshuibai is a Chinese FHB-resistant landrace and is not known to be related to Sumai 3. A population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed from a cross of Wangshuibai and Wheaton and evaluated twice for FHB infection on spikes. Four FHB resistance genes were detected. One major gene near the end of chromosome 3BS explained 37.3% of the phenotypic variation. Other minor genes on 3BS, 7AL, and 1BL explained 7.4% to 11.9% of the phenotypic variation. The molecular markers closely linked to these FHB resistance genes can be used for stacking QTL from Wangshuibai and other sources to develop cultivars with transgressive FHB resistance.

Technical Abstract: Molecular mapping of FHB resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) and marker-assisted selection (MAS) of these QTL will aid in the development of FHB resistant cultivars. Most reported FHB resistance QTL are from Sumai 3 and its derivatives. Wangshuibai is a FHB-resistant landrace that originated from China and is not known to be related to Sumai 3. A mapping population of 139 F5:6 derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed from a cross of Wangshuibai and Wheaton. The population was developed to map the FHB resistant QTL in Wangshuibai, and was evaluated twice for Type II FHB resistance. A total of 1196 SSR (simple sequence repeat) and AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) markers were screened on this population, and four FHB resistance QTL were detected. A major QTL near the end of 3BS explained 37.3% of the phenotypic variation. Another QTL on 3BS, located close to the centromere, explained 7.4% of the phenotypic variation. Two additional QTL on 7AL and 1BL explained 9.8% and 11.9% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. The SSR and AFLP markers closely linked to these FHB resistance QTL may be useful for stacking QTL from Wangshuibai and other sources to develop cultivars with transgressive FHB resistance.