Abstract
Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) has shown effective resistance to a diversity of diseases and insects, including tan spot, which is caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, being an important foliar disease that can attack all types of wheat and several grasses. In this study, 443 SHW plants were evaluated for their resistance to tan spot under controlled environmental conditions. Additionally, a genome-wide association study was conducted by genotyping all entries with the DArTSeq technology to identify marker-trait associations for tan spot resistance. Of the 443 SHW plants, 233 showed resistant and 183 moderately resistant reactions, and only 27 were moderately susceptible or susceptible to tan spot. Durum wheat (DW) parents of the SHW showed moderately susceptible to susceptible reactions. A total of 30 significant marker-trait associations were found on chromosomes 1B (4 markers), 1D (1 marker), 2A (1 marker), 2D (2 markers), 3A (4 markers), 3D (3 markers), 4B (1 marker), 5A (4 markers), 6A (6 markers), 6B (1 marker) and 7D (3 markers). Increased resistance in the SHW in comparison to the DW parents, along with the significant association of resistance with the A and B genome, supported the concept of activating epistasis interaction across the three wheat genomes. Candidate genes coding for F-box and cytochrome P450 proteins that play significant roles in biotic stress resistance were identified for the significant markers. The identified resistant SHW lines can be deployed in wheat breeding for tan spot resistance.
Highlights
Diseases are major threats that significantly reduce yield when crops are grown under disease-favoring conditions
Our study indicates that synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) plants present considerable resistance to tan spot due to the diverse genetic backgrounds of these lines
Our research identified new sources of resistance to tan spot in CIMMYT’s SHW that can be used in wheat breeding via crosses and backcrosses with elite bread wheat lines
Summary
Diseases are major threats that significantly reduce yield when crops are grown under disease-favoring conditions. Climate change often results in severe disease epidemics that significantly limit grain yield and quality in wheat [2]. The causative agents of these diseases, mainly fungal pathogens, infect multiple wheat tissues such as root, stem, leaf, spike, and grain. Based on the frequency and severity levels of disease epidemics, the diseases that infect leaf and spike/grain are considered of greater importance. In this sense, many researchers agree that “stripe rust” caused by Puccinia striiformis f. Phaeosphaeria) (Berk.) Quaedvlieg, Verkley & Crous, and “Septoria tritici blotch” by Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fuckel) Schroeter, in Cohn (anamorph Zymoseptoria tritici Rob ex Desm.) are some of the most important foliar diseases [3,4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
