International Winter Wheat Improvement Program Research Articles

QTL Mapping of Adult Plant Resistance to Stripe Rust in a Doubled Haploid Wheat Population.

Stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici. is a major bread wheat disease worldwide with yield losses of up to 100% under severe disease pressure. The deployment of resistant cultivars with adult plant resistance to the disease provides a long-term solution to stripe rust of wheat. An advanced line from the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) 130675 (Avd/Vee#1//1-27-6275/Cf 1770/3/MV171-C-17466) showed a high level of adult plant resistance to stripe rust in the field. To identify the adult plant resistance genes in this elite line, a mapping population of 190 doubled haploid (DH) lines was developed from a cross between line 130675 and the universal stripe rust-susceptible variety Avocet S. The DH population was evaluated at precision wheat stripe rust phenotyping platform, in Izmir during 2019, 2020, and 2021 cropping seasons under artificial inoculations. Composite interval mapping (CIM) identified two stable QTLs QYr.rcrrc-3B.1, and QYr.rcrrc-3B.2, which were detected in multiple years. In addition to these two QTLs, five more QTLs, QYr.rcrrc-1B, QYr.rcrrc-2A, QYr.rcrrc-3A, QYr.rcrrc-5A, and QYr.rcrrc-7D, were identified, which were specific to the cropping year (environment). All QTLs were derived from the resistant parent, except QYr.rcrrc-3A. The significant QTLs explained 3.4–20.6% of the phenotypic variance. SNP markers flanking the QTL regions can be amenable to marker-assisted selection. The best DH lines with high yield, end-use quality, and stripe rust resistance can be used for further selection for improved germplasm. SNP markers flanking the QTL regions can aid in identifying such lines.

Selection of large seed and high yielding lines of bread wheat for drought conditions

One of the most important tasks in the creation of new varieties is the study of various features of world collection lines of bread wheat suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the republic, the selection of high-yielding, disease and pest-resistant lines and their involvement in selection work. With the help of ICARDA, 165 varieties and lines were planted and studied in the Optional and Winter Wheat Observatory (25th-FAWWON-IR) from the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP-CIMMYT Turkey). As a result of studying the valuable properties of bread wheat varieties and lines, 10 lines superior to standard varieties were selected and transferred to the next stage of selection.

International Winter Wheat Improvement Program: history, activities, impact and future

International Winter Wheat Improvement Program: history, activities, impact and future

Resistance and tolerance reactions of winter wheat lines to Heterodera filipjevi in Turkey.

Nematodes attack cereal crops resulting in significant yield losses, estimated at 10%. The plant parasitic nematodes of the genus Heterodera attack cereals, particularly wheat, causing costly financial losses due to impact on yield. The soil borne pathogens program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Turkey has focused on screening wheat germplasm to identify sources of Heterodera resistant varieties for almost 20 years. The aim of this current study was to validate the finding that resistant lines demonstrate resistant reactions under controlled conditions and to test whether they present tolerant reactions when challenged with cyst nematodes under two different locations in field conditions. The results of this study, including the check lines, indicated that 27 and 28 lines maintained their reactions to H. filipjevi in Eskisehir and Yozgat field, respectively, and 23 lines were the same in both locations. In terms of tolerance, 3 and 13 lines proven to be tolerant and moderately tolerant to H. filipjevi in Yozgat field. In Eskisehir field, 13 and 14 lines were tolerant and moderately tolerant. In both locations, L7 showed tolerance reaction, although it was susceptible. The majority of the resistant germplasm (60%, 14 lines) of screened lines from the Turkey CIMMYT–ICARDA (TCI) nursery were found to be resistant to both H. filipjevi populations including L1, L3, L6, L15, L21, L26, and L34, whereas 17% (four lines) from the USA had the same reaction. L32 showed a high level of resistance and tolerance in both locations and could prove to be promising lines in the breeding programs. The International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) formerly used these resistant lines in the crossing block and subsequently distributed them to more than 150 international collaborators. Regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between yield and RF of H. filipjevi in both nematode populations, which describes the negative impact of this pest on winter wheat. The results of this study are very important for breeding programs especially for the IWWIP, a joint program between the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, CIMMYT, and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

Determination of Resistance in Winter Wheat Genotypes to the Dryland Root Rots caused by Fusarium culmorum in Turkey

Kuru alan kök (kökboğazı/dip) çürüklükleri’ne neden olan Fusarium türleri tahıllara özellikle buğdaya zarar vermekte, tane sayı ve kalitesini azaltarak önemli verim kaybına neden olmaktadır. Türkiye’de kök çürüklüğü hastalık etmeni Fusarium türleri içinde buğday bitkisine zarar veren başlıca etmen olarak rapor edilen tür Fusarium culmorum’dur. Maalesef, günümüze kadar Fusarium türlerine karşı sadece birkaç kısmi dayanıklı buğday genotipi bulunmuştur. Bu nedenle, bu çalışma Fusarium hastalığının neden olduğu zararı sınırlandırmak amacıyla çeşitli buğday genotiplerinde yeni dayanıklılık kaynaklarının bulunması amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada, Uluslararası Kışlık Buğday Geliştirme Programı (IWWIP) aracılığıyla 19 farklı Ülke’den toplam 141 ıslah materyali (hat ve çeşit) sağlanmıştır ve Türkiye’de 3 farklı ortamda (büyütme odası,sera, tarla) yerel izolat Fusarium culmorum’a karşı dayanıklılıklarının belirlenmesi amacıyla 2012 yılında test edilmiştir. Dayanıklılık bakımından en iyi performansı gösteren genotipler verilerin doğrulanması amacıyla 2013 yılında tekrar test edilmiştir. Fenotiplendirme yapılan 141 genotip içinden toplam materyalin %12’ lik kısmını oluşturan 17 genotip fide ve/veya yetişkin dönemde orta dayanıklı olarak gruplandırılmıştır. Meksika kaynaklı genotipler, fide dayanıklılığı daha fazla gösteren Amerika kaynaklı genotiplerin aksine yetişkin dönem dayanıklılığı göstermiştir. Yüksek dayanıklılık gösteren kışlık buğdaylar PATWIN YR5 ve TAST/SPRW//ZAR/5/YUANDONG 3/4/PPB8-68/CHRC/3/PYN//TAM101/AMIGO kök çürüklüğü’ ne karşı ıslahta ümitvar olarak görülmektedir.

Common Bunt Resistance of Winter Wheat Genotypes Under Artificial Infection

Common bunt (Tilletia caries) is a seed-transmitted fungal disease in wheat. The resistant cultivars and germplasm lines of wheat will be useful for control this type of disease in organic farming. A set of 75 wheat cultivars and lines from International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) of Turkey were used to determine resistance to common bunt. The experiment was carried out at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and experimental material was grown in an artificially inoculated nursery during the 2016-2017 season. The productivity of wheat genotypes under artificial infection ranged from 1.13 t/ha to 7.29 t/ha. The susceptible check to common bunt, GEREK 79 had a high level of susceptibility to common bunt with 59.7% infected heads. The high mean disease incidence in the nursery was 74.4%. Sixteen genotypes were resistant to disease under artificial inoculation. Out of 75 wheat cutivars, 42 wheat genotypes (56% of all genotypes) were classified as moderate resistance to disease. Identified resistance genotypes will be useful for breeding programs for forming resistance cultivars to common bunt in Kazakhstan.

Results of the Primary Ecological Test of Nurseries Organized on the Basis of International Winter Wheat Improvement Program Performed in Absheron

Results of the Primary Ecological Test of Nurseries Organized on the Basis of International Winter Wheat Improvement Program Performed in Absheron

High-temperature adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in facultative winter wheat

Stripe (yellow) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss., is one of the most damaging diseases in wheat and is especially damaging for winter and facultative wheat. The objective of this study was to understand stripe rust resistance in 100 wheat and facultative wheat entries from the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program by conducting experiments in a greenhouse and in four field environments in Washington State, USA, and by genotyping molecular markers linked to Yr genes. Percentages of entries resistant to the rust races at the seedling stage were: PST-17, 44%; PST-37, 32%; PST-43, 45%; PST-45, 49%; PST-116, 18%; PST-100, 17%; and PST-127, 8%. Molecular markers were positive for genes Yr9, Yr17, and Yr18 and negative for Yr5, Yr10, and Yr15. Yr18 was present in 44 entries (44%). By using the highly virulent races PST-127 and PST-100 under controlled conditions, 16 entries were shown to have high-temperature adult-plant (HTAP) resistance and resistant–moderately resistant field reactions at all four field sites. Resistant entries, especially those with HTAP resistance, were also identified in the field experiments.

GENOTYPE BY ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION EFFECTS ON PLANT HEIGHT OF WHEAT GENOTYPES CARRYING RHT 8 DWARFING GENE

Twenty-five bread wheat genotypes (G), carring Rht 8 dwarfing gene, selected from Facultative and Winter Wheat Observation Nursery for Semiarid Environments (FAWWON-SA) of International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) were tested across 14 environments (E) from European, Asian and African Continents during the 2011-2012 cropping season in order to detect the effects of G, E and GE interaction (GEI) on plant height (PH) by means of pattern analysis (PA). It showed that Gs originated from Russia, Ukraine and IWWIP were semi-dwarf taller than those of National Bread Wheat Breeding Program of Turkey (NBWBPT). In this study, medium-tall Gs were favorable to rain-fed Es, due to the positive relationship between PH and grain yield. It has been suggested that ZAF01 (Bethlehem-South Africa) among 14 Es could be more suitable for phenotyping Gs for PH potential. In conclusion, Eastern European germplasm was able to adapt to almost all Es, whereas genotypes from NBWBPT were not. Therefore, the latter needs improving its adaptability to stressful Es. Key words: Bread wheat, plant height, genotype by environment interaction

Winter Wheat Eastern European Regional Yield Trial: Identification of Superior Genotypes and Characterization of Environments

ABSTRACTThe International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP)—a collaboration between the government of Turkey, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)—develops and globally distributes improved winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm. The Winter Wheat Eastern European Regional Yield Trial was conducted by IWWIP during 1998–2005 using elite lines and varieties from IWWIP, Eastern Europe (EE), the United States, and Central and West Asia (CWA). This study analyzed data to identify superior genotypes and key locations that could be useful for future international collaboration on winter wheat. Grain yield and agronomic traits of 422 elite breeding lines and new varieties from 17 countries were evaluated across 39 locations. Superior genotypes and key environments for grain yield were determined using genotype and genotype × environment biplot analyses. Many superior genotypes were identified for both EE and CWA, and 11 genotypes showed high, stable grain yield across the regions. The most representative and discriminating sites for grain yield were Konya and Eskisehir, Turkey (overall); Edirne, Turkey (CWA); and Dobrich, Bulgaria (EE). These findings represent a comprehensive analysis of yield and stability of a large, globally important set of winter wheat genotypes and growing locations, which may be useful for national and international winter wheat improvement programs.

Resistance of winter wheat to Heterodera filipjevi in Turkey

Cereal cyst nematodes (CCNs) are plant parasites that significantly limit global cereal production. The most frequently reported pathogenic species are Heterodera avenae, H. filipjevi, and H. latipons. One of the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and easily adopted control measures is the use of genetic host resistance, which maintains nematode populations below the economic damage threshold level. Many effective sources of resistance to CCNs have been identified in cereals; however, their effectiveness and usefulness is dependent on the interaction of the specific putative resistant accession and the CCN pathotype found in a specific region. In this study, 719 wheat lines from the Facultative and Winter Wheat Observation Nurseries, representing a broad geographical spectrum of breeding lines and varieties from Europe, Central Asia, and the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program, were screened against H. filipjevi under controlled conditions. The results indicated that 114 and 90 genotypes were ranked resistant and moderately resistant, representing 15.8% and 12.5% of the screened genotypes, respectively. The frequency of resistant genotypes observed in the germplasms varied significantly among the different original countries and was the highest for genotypes that originated from Bulgaria (59.3%). From those phenotyped germplasms, a set of 289 lines was genotyped to understand if resistance sources are located at the same site or originate from different locations in the genome.

Association Mapping of Resistance to Yellow Rust in Winter Wheat Cultivars and Elite Genotypes

The acknowledgements section of this manuscript was modified to the following: This study was carried out through the financial support from the Government of Japan. The elite genotypes used in the advanced yield trial of this study are originated from the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP).

Breeding progress for yield in winter wheat genotypes targeted to irrigated environments of the CWANA region

The international winter wheat improvement program (IWWIP), an alliance between Turkey–CIMMYT–ICARDA, has distributed improved germplasm to different National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) partners through international nurseries and yield trials for the last 25 years. This study was carried out in order to determine the rate of breeding progress for yield and yield related traits at IWWIP using data of the international winter wheat yield trials (IWWYT), IWWYT 1–13, collected from 1997 to 2010 in irrigated environments across different countries. The relative grain yield of the best line expressed as percent of the best check (Kinaci-97), widely grown cultivar (Bezostaya) and trial mean (TM) increased at a rate of 0.6, 1.6 and 0.2 %/year, each non-significant (P > 0.05), respectively. Regression analysis indicated that TM has increased at a rate of 91.9 kg/ha/year (P = 0.007). The net realized breeding progress was estimated by accounting the variability due to management and weather conditions using surrogate variables such as integrated biological indices taken as means of common checks. The net realized gain for the BL was 66.2 ± 19.7 kg/ha/year (P = 0.01). Success rate of the BL, per cent of sites where the BL exceeds the local check in grain yield, ranged from 50 to 87 % across trials. To date, more than 55 varieties of IWWIP origin have been released in 10 countries of Central and West Asia including Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Some varieties, such as Solh and Kinaci-97, have been released under different names in different countries indicating their broad adaptation. Cluster analysis of IWWYT sites indicated that IWWIP sites in Turkey and Syria are associated with most of the testing sites in Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region. The recently identified high yielding genotypes are recommended for direct release and/or parental purposes by the respective NARS.

Improved winter wheat genotypes for Central and West Asia

High grain yield and resistance to stripe (yellow) rust are the most important traits for successful adoption of winter wheat varieties in Central and West Asia. This study was conducted to determine the stripe rust response and agronomic performance of a set of breeding lines recently developed by the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP). Replicated field studies were conducted in 2010 and 2011 using 38 experimental lines, one regional check (Konya) and one local check. Stripe rust scores were recorded at Karshi, Uzbekistan, and Karaj and Mashhad, Iran, in 2010. Grain yield was recorded at two sites each in Uzbekistan (Karshi and Kibray) and Iran (Karaj and Mashhad) and one site in Turkey (Eskisehir). The test lines showed variation for stripe rust severity, grain yield, 1,000-kernel weight, days to heading and plant height. Several stripe rust resistant genotypes were either higher yielding or equal to the local checks at different sites. Based on stripe rust resistance and yield performance in 2010, a set of 16 genotypes was selected and evaluated in 2011. All 16 were resistant at Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in 2011, whereas 9 of the 16 were resistant at Terter, Azerbaijan. The genotypes ‘TCI-02-138, ‘Solh’, ‘CMSS97M00541S’, ‘TCI -2-88(A)’ and ‘TCI-02-88(C)’ were consistently resistant to stripe across all sites in both years. Several lines showed high grain yields and superior agronomic performance across four sites in Uzbekistan and one site in Tajikistan. One genotype has been released in Uzbekistan and another in Tajikistan.

Identification of Ug99 stem rust resistance loci in winter wheat germplasm using genome-wide association analysis

The evolution of a new race of stem rust, generally referred to as Ug99, threatens global wheat production because it can overcome widely deployed resistance genes that had been effective for many years. To identify loci conferring resistance to Ug99 in wheat, a genome-wide association study was conducted using 232 winter wheat breeding lines from the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program. Breeding lines were genotyped with diversity array technology, simple sequence repeat and sequence-tagged site markers, and phenotyped at the adult plant stage for resistance to stem rust in the stem rust resistance screening nursery at Njoro, Kenya during 2009-2011. A mixed linear model was used for detecting marker-trait associations. Twelve loci associated with Ug99 resistance were identified including markers linked to known genes Sr2 and Lr34. Other markers were located in the chromosome regions where no Sr genes have been previously reported, including one each on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 4A and 7B, two on chromosome 5B and four on chromosome 6B. The same data were used for investigating epistatic interactions between markers with or without main effects. The marker csSr2 linked to Sr2 interacted with wPt4930 on 6BS and wPt729773 in an unknown location. Another marker, csLV34 linked to Lr34, also interacted with wPt4930 on 6BS and wPt4916 on 2BS. The frequent involvement of wPt4916 on 2BS and wPt4930 on 6BS in interactions with other significant loci on the same or different chromosomes suggested complex genetic control for adult plant resistance to Ug99 in winter wheat germplasm.

Molecular characterization of Cereal Cyst Nematode diagnostic markers Cre1 and Cre3 in some winter wheat germplasm and their potential use against Heterodera filipjevi

Two PCR based markers tightly linked to Cre1 and Cre3 resistant genes against the Cereal Cyst Nematode (CCN, causal agent Heterodera avenae) were used to characterize a number of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheat germplasm consisting of obsolete, advanced lines and new cultivars from the Turkish National Breeding Program and the joint TURKEY CIMMYT ICARDA International Winter Wheat Improvement Program. In addition a number of landraces and wild relatives of wheat collected from the Turkish side of the Fertile Crescent, the centre of origin of cereals, were included. None of the genetic material tested positive for either marker except the land race Sardari which originated from neighboring Iran was found positive for Cre1 gene. Combining both of these molecular markers in one assay for fast and cost-effective screening of the germplasm was not effective, so marker genotyping with germplasm was realized using each primer alone. Most work that has been reported is on the CCN species H. avenae, however the predominant species in Turkey is the closely related H. filipjevi. In vitro resistance assaying for this species indicates that Cre1 is a moderate source of resistance against the H. filipjevi population, however Cre3 gene appears ineffective. It is suggested that a larger pool of a range of germplasm should be screened for Cre1 in Turkey. Furthermore, the landrace Sardari could be used as a parent to deploy CCN resistance in to genetic background of Turkish bread wheat cultivars with a targeted Marker Assisted Selection Backcrossing approach.

Identifying high yielding stable winter wheat genotypes for irrigated environments in Central and West Asia

Improved winter wheat (Triticum aes- tivum L.) cultivars are needed for the diverse environ- ments in Central and West Asia to improve rural livelihoods. This study was conducted to determine the performance of elite winter wheat breeding lines developed by the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP), to analyze their stability across diverse environments, and to identify superior genotypes that could be valuable for winter wheat improvement or varietal release. One hundred and one advanced winter wheat breeding lines and four check cultivars were tested over a 5-year period (2004-2008). Grain yield and agronomic traits were analyzed. Stability and genotypic superiority for grain yield were determined using genotype and geno- type 9 environment (GGE) biplot analysis. The experimental genotypes showed high levels of grain yield in each year, with mean values ranging from 3.9 to 6.7 t ha -1 . A set of 25 experimental genotypes was identified. These were either equal or superior to the best check based on their high mean yield and stability across environments as assessed by the GGE biplot analysis. The more stable high yielding genotypes were ID800994.W/Falke, Agri/Nac//Attila, ID8009 94W/Vee//F900K/3/Pony/Opata, AU//YT542/N10B/ 3/II8260/4/JI/Hys/5/Yunnat Esskiy/6/KS82W409/Spn and F130-L-1-12/MV12. The superior genotypes also had acceptable maturity, plant height and 1,000-kernel weight. Among the superior lines, Agri/Nac//Attila and Shark/F4105W2.1 have already been proposed for release in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia, respectively. The findings provide information on wide adaptation of the internationally important winter wheat genotypes, and demonstrate that the IWWIP program is enriching the germplasm base in the region with superior winter wheat genotypes to the benefit of national and international winter wheat improvement programs.