Symptomatology and Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay Used to Facilitate Breeding for Resistance to Wheat Soilborne Mossaic

Abstract

Wheat soilborne mosaic (WSBM) can significantly reduce wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields. The only feasible method for controlling this disease is to plant resistant cultivars; however, development of WSBM‐resistant wheat can be difficult, because soil fertility, soil moisture, or other viruses cause symptoms that mimic or mask symptoms induced by the WSBM virus. Thus, the objective of this research was to develop a system that effectively identifies resistance to WSBM. Reactions to WSBM were determined for advanced breeder lines, single plants from advanced lines, and headrow progeny from advanced lines, using symptomatology and the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in growth chamber test and in the field. Results indicate that large numbers of plants or lines can be screened using the growth chamber test to eliminate susceptible entries. In addition to confirming results from the growth chamber test, the field test also detected lines segregating for disease reaction. Individual plants resistant to WSBM were identified from these segregating lines, using a combination of the growth chamber and field tests. Use of this system in breeding for resistance to WSBM reduces the possibility of misidentifying the reaction of wheat lines or plants to WSBM and facilitates the development of wheat resistant to this disease.