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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269328
Title: Fine genetic mapping of greenbug aphid resistance gene Gb3 in Aegilops tauschii

Author
item AZHAGUVEL, PERUMAL - Texas Agrilife Research
item RUDD, JACKIE - Texas Agrilife Research
item MA, YAQIN - University Of California
item LUO, MING-CHENG - University Of California
item Weng, Yiqun

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/7/2011
Publication Date: 10/30/2011
Citation: Azhaguvel, P., Rudd, J.C., Ma, Y., Luo, M., Weng, Y. 2011. Fine genetic mapping of greenbug aphid resistance gene Gb3 in Aegilops tauschii. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 124(3):555-564.

Interpretive Summary: The greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), is an important aphid pest of small grain crops in many parts of the world. The greenbug resistant gene Gb3 originated from Aegilops tauschii Coss. (2n =2x =14, genome DtDt) has shown consistent and durable resistance against prevailing greenbug biotypes in wheat fields. We previously mapped Gb3 in a recombination-rich, telomeric bin of wheat chromosome arm 7DL In this study, high–resolution genetic mapping was carried out using an F2:3 segregating population derived from two Ae. tauschii accessions, the resistant PI 183967 (original donor of Gb3) and susceptible AL8/78..Molecular markers were developed by exploring bin mapped wheat RFLPs, SSRs, ESTs and the wheat D genome physical maps (BAC contigs). Wheat EST and Ae. tasuchii BAC end sequences located in the deletion bin 7DL3-0.82-1.00 were used to design STS (sequence tagged site) or CAPS (Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence) markers. Forty five PCR-based markers were developed and mapped to the chromosomal region spanning the Gb3 locus. Two closest flanking markers delimited the resistance gene in a 1.1 cM interval. This localized high-resolution genetic map with markers closely linked to Gb3 lays a solid foundation for map based cloning of Gb3 and marker-assisted selection of this gene in wheat breeding.

Technical Abstract: The greenbug is a serious aphid pest of wheat and sorghum in the southern High Plains of the US. The greenbug resistant gene Gb3 originated from the goatgrass has shown consistent and durable resistance against prevailing greenbug biotypes in wheat fields for moer than 30 years. Our goal is to clone this aphid resistance gene through the map-based cloning strategy. We previously placed the Gb3 gene in a recombination-rich region of wheat chromosome arm 7DL. The very large genome of bread wheat causes a significant challenge to clone this important gene. So we took a different strategy to achieve this goal by working in the diploid species foatgrass. In this study, high–resolution genetic mapping was carried out using an F2:3 segregating population derived from two goatgrass accessions, the resistant PI 183967 (original donor of Gb3) and susceptible AL8/78..Molecular markers were developed by exploring all available resources including wheat RFLPs, SSRs, ESTs and the wheat D genome physical maps (BAC contigs). Forty five PCR-based markers were developed and mapped to the chromosomal region spanning the Gb3 locus. Two closest flanking markers defined a region of 1.1 cM genetic length surrounding the resistance gene. This high-resolution genetic map with markers closely linked to Gb3 layspresents a solid foundation for isolation of this aphid resistance gene and marker-assisted selection of this gene in wheat breeding.