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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #62637
Title: MOLECULAR MARKERS FOR A 2RL.2BS WHEAT-RYE CHROMOSOMAL TRANSLOCATION

Author
item LEE, J - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item Graybosch, Robert
item KAEPPLER, S - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item SEARS, ROLLIE - KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Genome Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Rye, a close relative of wheat, has been used as a source of genes conferring resistance to a number of pests and diseases of wheat. A wheat germplasm line, Hamlet, carries a piece of a rye chromosome which bears genes encoding resistance to both Hessian Fly, and Tanspot. In addition, observations in the field in 1995, under extremely wet conditions, suggest the presence of genes providing resistance to additional fungal pathogens. Identification of these genes by wheat breeders is difficult, and may be accomplished only through the establishment of labor intensive greenhouse screening procedures, or by relying on intermittent infections in the field. In this study, a rapid means of identifying these genes, using DNA markers, was devised. In addition, a simple pair of DNA sequences was found to be useful in the identification of several rye genes of importance to wheat breeding programs. Each gene was found to display a unique "fingerprint" in diagnostic tests. The system will be of great benefit to wheat breeders through increased efficiency in the identification of lines with Hessian Fly and Tanspot resistance.

Technical Abstract: A 2RL.2BS wheat-rye translocation, found in the wheat germplasm line Hamlet , carries a resistance gene to Hessian fly biotype L., the most virulent biotype presently encountered in wheat production environments. Unlike several wheat-rye chromosomal translocations common in wheat breeding programs, 2RL lacks genes encoding storage proteins or other easily selected markers. Oligonucleotide primers synthesized from published sequences derived from the R173 family of moderately repetitive rye DNA were used as templates in the DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify specific markers for 2RL. The same primers, when used with DNA extracted from additional wheat-rye translocation lines of importance to the wheat breeding community, gave chromosome- specific PCR products. The single primer pair, PAWS5 and PAWS6, may, therefore, serve as a set of universal primers for the identification of wheat-rye chromosomal translocations presently encountered in wheat breeding populations.