KASP markers to detect sub-chromosomal arm translocations between 6VS of Haynaldia villosa and 6AS of wheat

Abstract

Wild relatives represent an important genetic pool for crop improvement. In wheat, a popular strategy for the introduction of alien genes is by manipulation of the Ph1 gene, to induce recombination between homoeologous chromosomes. However, the frequency of such homoeologous recombination is low and requires screening of large progeny samples. Consequently, the efficiency of selection of homoeologous recombinants is important. In this study, we developed two kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers specific for chromosome arms 6VS of Haynaldia villosa L. and 6AS of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., one close to the terminal regions and the other near the centromeres. Of the 121 progeny from plants heterozygous for the 6VS·6AL translocation and homozygous for ph1b screened by the two KASP markers, three (2.5%) have shown an exchange of markers, and their recombinant nature was confirmed by in situ DNA hybridization. A recombinants chromosome with a small 6VS fragment carrying the powdery mildew resistance gene (Pm21) would be useful in wheat breeding. The two KASP markers tested here can be used for efficient detection of recombinants between 6AS and 6VS.