Mapping of SnTox3-Snn3 as a major determinant of field susceptibility to Septoria nodorum leaf blotch in the SHA3/CBRD x Naxos population

Authors: RUUD, ANJA - Norwegian University Of Life Sciences; WINDJU, SUSANNE - Norwegian University Of Life Sciences; BELOVA, TATIANA - Norwegian University Of Life Sciences; Friesen, Timothy; LILLEMO, MORTEN - Norwegian University Of Life Sciences

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2017
Publication Date: 4/1/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5700721
Citation: Ruud, A.K., Windju, S., Belova, T., Friesen, T.L., Lillemo, M. 2017. Mapping of SnTox3-Snn3 as a major determinant of field susceptibility to Septoria nodorum leaf blotch in the SHA3/CBRD x Naxos population. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 130:1361-1374. doi: 10.1007/s00122-017-2893-5.

Interpretive Summary: Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) affects both the leaves and glumes of wheat. Parastagonospora nodorum is the causal agent and is the major leaf blotch pathogen on spring wheat in Norway. Resistance to the disease involved several genes, but several host-specific interactions between necrotrophic effectors (NEs) and host sensitivity (Snn) genes have been identified, playing a major role at the seedling stage. However, the effect of these interactions in the field under natural infection has not been investigated. In the present study, we used a population that had previously been evaluated for segregation of SNB susceptibility in field trials. Here, we mapped the SnTox3 sensitivity gene Snn3 to chromosome 5BS. We also conducted inoculation and culture filtrate (CF) infiltration experiments on the population with four selected P. nodorum isolates from Norway and North America. Re-mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for field resistance showed that the SnTox3-Snn3 interaction could explain more than 24% of the disease variation in the field, and more than 51 % of the variation in seedling inoculations. To our knowledge, this is the first time the effect of this interaction has been documented at the adult plant stage under natural infection in the field.

Technical Abstract: Parastagonospora nodorum is a necrotrophic pathogen of wheat, causing Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) affecting both the leaf and glume. P. nodorum is the major leaf blotch pathogen on spring wheat in Norway. Resistance to the disease is quantitative, but several host-specific interactions between necrotrophic effectors (NEs) and host sensitivity (Snn) genes have been identified, playing a major role at the seedling stage. However, the effect of these interactions in the field under natural infection has not been investigated. In the present study, we saturated the genetic map of the recombinant inbred (RI) population SHA3/CBRD × Naxos using the Illumina 90K SNP chip. The population had previously been evaluated for segregation of SNB susceptibility in field trials. Here, we infiltrated the population with purified SnToxA, SnTox1 and SnTox3, and mapped the Snn3 locus on 5BS based on sensitivity segregation and SNP marker data. We also conducted inoculation and culture filtrate (CF) infiltration experiments on the population with four selected P. nodorum isolates from Norway and North America. Re-mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for field resistance showed that the SnTox3-Snn3 interaction could explain more than 24 % of the phenotypic variation in the field, and more than 51 % of the variation in seedling inoculations. To our knowledge, this is the first time the effect of this interaction has been documented at the adult plant stage under natural infection in the field.