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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202690
Title: Introgression and genetic characterization of alien Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat

Author
item OLIVER, R - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV.
item Xu, Steven
item STACK, R - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV.
item CAI, X - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2006
Publication Date: 12/10/2006
Citation: Oliver, R.E., Xu, S.S., Stack, R.W., Cai, X. 2006. Introgression and genetic characterization of alien Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings. p. 116.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Alien species are an important source of genetic variability in wheat (Triticum spp.) and carry genes for resistance to numerous pathogens, including Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB). The goal of this project was to develop breeder-friendly, FHB-resistant germplasm. Specific objectives were to identify novel sources of FHB resistance derived from relatives of wheat and transfer the resistance to adapted wheat backgrounds. Resistance to FHB was identified in four wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum derivatives, using the point inoculation method over three greenhouse seasons. Fluorescent genomic in situ hybridization indicated that the four derivatives were partial wheat-Th. ponticum amphiploids, each with 56 chromosomes. Conventional hybridization and use of the PhI system, which induces meiotic pairing and recombination between homoeologous wheat and Th. ponticum chromosomes, facilitated reduction of linkage drag and introgression of Th. ponticum chromatin into cultivated wheat. Hybridization of these amphiploids with Alsen, an FHB-resistant wheat cultivar, led to production of wheat lines with reduced amounts of Th. ponticum chromatin and favorable agronomic performance. Introgression lines were identified with minimal linkage drag and apparently high levels of FHB resistance. Resistance to FHB was also identified in progeny derived from hybridization of the amphiploids with Reeder, a wheat cultivar noted for FHB susceptibility. These introgression lines could provide wheat breeders access to FHB resistance genes from relatives of wheat, thus promoting development of wheat cultivars with resilient and novel resistance to this disease.