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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Crop Production and Pest Control Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142019
Title: PHENOTYPIC ASSESSMENT AND MAPPED MARKERS FOR H31, A NEW WHEAT GENE CONFERRING RESISTANCE TO HESSIAN FLY (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE)

Author
item Williams, Christie
item Collier, Chad
item SARDESAI, NAGESH - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item OHM, HERBERT - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item Cambron, Sue

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2003
Publication Date: 8/20/2003
Citation: Williams C.E., Collier, C.C., Sardesai, N., Ohm, H.W., Cambron, S.E. 2003. Phenotypic assessment and mapped markers for H31, a new wheat gene conferring resistance to hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 107:1516-1523.

Interpretive Summary: New sources of resistance to the Hessian fly are needed in wheat because typically new resistance genes are overcome within about 10 years of cultivar release. Also new strategies for gene deployment are needed in order to extend the durability of resistance. A new wheat gene conferring resistance to the Hessian fly was characterized and the position of this gene was determined to be at the tip of wheat chromosome 5B. Two molecular markers were constructed and are being used to move the gene into breeding lines that will contain three different genes for Hessian fly resistance in wheat. Wheat breeders, and ultimately farmers, will benefit from the availability of this new resistance gene. The molecular marker will greatly reduce the time needed to move the gene into cultivars, making it available sooner. Also, the markers will allow the gene to be combined with other Hessian fly-resistance genes, in a gene pyramid, resulting in extended durability.

Technical Abstract: A new source of resistance to the highly virulent and widespread biotype L of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), was identified in an accession of tetraploid durum wheat, Triticum turgidum Desf., and was introgressed into hexaploid common wheat, T. aestivum L. Genetic analysis revealed that the line contained a single locus for resistance, H31, residing at the terminus of chromosome 5BS. H31is the first Hessian fly-resistance gene to be placed on 5BS, making it unique from all previously reported sources of resistance. AFLP analysis identified two markers linked to the resistance locus. These markers were converted to highly specific sequence-tagged site markers. The markers are being applied to the construction of cultivars carrying multiple genes for resistance to Hessian fly biotype L in order to test gene pyramiding as a strategy for extending the durability of deployed resistance.