Meta-analysis of Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight in Tetraploid Wheat: Implications for Durum Wheat Breeding

Abstract

Improvement of resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a continuous challenge for durum wheat (Triticum durum) breeding, where most germplasm are susceptible and low genetic variation is available for this trait. Research has focused on broadening the genetic basis by introducing alleles for FHB resistance from landraces and related species such as bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), cultivated emmer (Triticum dicoccum), wild emmer (Triticum dicoccoides) and Persian wheat (Triticum carthlicum) into durum wheat. We summarize and compare here QTL mapping studies carried out to date in tetraploid wheat. Thirteen QTL with small to moderate effects were repeatedly detected on 11 chromosomes with alleles improving FHB resistance deriving from relatives and from durum wheat itself. Comparison showed large overlaps of QTL positions with those identified in hexaploid wheat suggesting a common genetic basis for FHB resistance. FHB resistance breeding by allele introgression into durum wheat is feasible and QTL pyramiding in novel cultivars is a promising strategy for resistance breeding.