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This study performed comprehensive analyses on the predictive abilities of single-trait and two multi-trait models in three populations. Our results demonstrated the superiority of multi-traits over single-trait models across seven agronomic and four to seven disease resistance traits of different genetic architecture. The predictive ability of multi-trait and single-trait prediction models has not been investigated on diverse traits evaluated under organic and conventional management systems. Here, we compared the predictive abilities of 25% of a testing set that has not been evaluated for a single trait (ST), not evaluated for multi-traits (MT1), and evaluated for some traits but not others (MT2) in three spring wheat populations genotyped either with the wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphisms array or DArTseq. Analyses were performed on seven agronomic traits evaluated under conventional and organic management systems, four to seven disease resistance traits, and all agronomic and disease resistance traits simultaneously. The average prediction accuracies of the ST, MT1, and MT2 models varied from 0.03 to 0.78 (mean 0.41), from 0.05 to 0.82 (mean 0.47), and from 0.05 to 0.92 (mean 0.67), respectively. The predictive ability of the MT2 model was significantly greater than the ST model in all traits and populations except common bunt with the MT1 model being intermediate between them. The MT2 model increased prediction accuracies over the ST and MT1 models in all traits by 9.0-82.4% (mean 37.3%) and 2.9-82.5% (mean 25.7%), respectively, except common bunt that showed up to 7.7% smaller accuracies in two populations. A joint analysis of all agronomic and disease resistance traits further improved accuracies within the MT1 and MT2 models on average by 21.4% and 17.4%, respectively, as compared to either the agronomic or disease resistance traits, demonstrating the high potential of the multi-traits models in improving prediction accuracies.

QTL analyses of two bi-parental mapping populations with AC Barrie as a parent revealed numerous FHB-resistance QTL unique to each population and uncovered novel variation near Fhb1. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive disease of wheat worldwide, leading to severe yield and quality losses. The genetic basis of native FHB resistance was examined in two populations: a recombinant inbred line population from the cross Cutler/AC Barrie and a doubled haploid (DH) population from the cross AC Barrie/Reeder. Numerous QTL were detected among the two mapping populations with many being cross-specific. Photoperiod insensitivity at Ppd-D1 and dwarfing at Rht-B1 and Rht-D1 was associated with increased FHB susceptibility. Anthesis date QTL at or near the Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B1 loci co-located with major FHB-resistance QTL in the AC Barrie/Reeder population. The loci were epistatic for both traits, such that DH lines with both late alleles were considerably later to anthesis and had reduced FHB symptoms (i.e., responsible for the epistatic interaction). Interestingly, AC Barrie contributed FHB resistance near the Fhb1 locus in the Cutler population and susceptibility in the Reeder population. Analyses of the Fhb1 candidate genes PFT and TaHRC confirmed that AC Barrie, Cutler, and Reeder do not carry the Sumai-3 Fhb1 gene. Resistance QTL were also detected at the expected locations of Fhb2 and Fhb5. The native FHB-resistance QTL detected near Fhb1, Fhb2, and Fhb5 do not appear to be as effective as Fhb1, Fhb2, and Fhb5 from Sumai-3. The presence of awns segregated at the B1 awn inhibitor locus in both populations, but was only associated with FHB resistance in the Cutler/AC Barrie population suggesting linkage caused the association rather than pleiotropy.

Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance in the cultivar Sumai 3. Wheat breeders need to know which Sumai 3 loci are present in derived lines used as parents for effective marker-assisted selection for genetic improvement. This study was conducted to identify the loci in Sumai 3 derived parents that contribute FHB resistance in breeding populations. Three doubled haploid (DH) populations utilizing Sumai 3 derived parents, ND3085, ND744, and Alsen, were evaluated during 2007 and 2008 in FHB nurseries near Carman, MB, Ottawa, ON and Charlottetown, PE. The percentage of incidence, severity, Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK), and deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation were measured, and FHB index calculated. DNA markers at six FHB resistance loci detected in Sumai 3 were evaluated on the populations. For each trait, a t test was applied to means of observations pooled by parental type of each marker to determine which loci contributed to resistance. The alleles at 3BS and 5AS most frequently contributed to Type I and Type II FHB resistance, as well as to reduced FDK and DON in all three populations. Markers revealed resistance on 3BS and 5AS in Alsen, ND3085, and ND744, on 3BSc, 4D, and 6BS in ND744, on 4D in ND3085, and on 6BS in Alsen. In some environments, the susceptible parent Infinity contributed minor QTL on 2D, 3BSc, and 6BS. Likewise, Helios contributed minor QTL on 5AS and 6BS.

Simple Summary Genomic selection is a promising approach to select superior wheat lines with better resistance to Fusarium head blight. The accuracy of genomic selection is determined by many factors. In this study, we found a training population with large size, genomic selection models incorporating biological information, and multi-environment modelling led to considerably better predictabilities. A training population designed by the coefficient of determination (CDmean) could increase accuracy of prediction. Relatedness between training population (TP) and testing population is the key for accuracies of genomic selection across populations. Abstract Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance is quantitatively inherited, controlled by multiple minor effect genes, and highly affected by the interaction of genotype and environment. This makes genomic selection (GS) that uses genome-wide molecular marker data to predict the genetic breeding value as a promising approach to select superior lines with better resistance. However, various factors can affect accuracies of GS and better understanding how these factors affect GS accuracies could ensure the success of applying GS to improve FHB resistance in wheat. In this study, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of factors that affect GS accuracies with a multi-parental population designed for FHB resistance. We found larger sample sizes could get better accuracies. Training population designed by CDmean based optimization algorithms significantly increased accuracies than random sampling approach, while mean of predictor error variance (PEVmean) had the poorest performance. Different genomic selection models performed similarly for accuracies. Including prior known large effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) as fixed effect into the GS model considerably improved the predictability. Multi-traits models had almost no effects, while the multi-environment model outperformed the single environment model for prediction across different environments. By comparing within and across family prediction, better accuracies were obtained with the training population more closely related to the testing population. However, achieving good accuracies for GS prediction across populations is still a challenging issue for GS application.

Parallels exist between the domestication of new species and the improvement of various crops through selection on traits which favor the sowing, harvest and retention of yield potential and the directed efforts to improve their agronomics, disease resistance and quality characteristics. Common selection pressures may result in the parallel selection of orthologs underlying these traits and homologies between crop species can be exploited by plant breeders to improve germplasm. Perennial grains and oilseeds are a class of proposed crops for improving the diversity and sustainability of agricultural systems. Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani Schrad.) is a perennial crop wild relative of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and a candidate perennial oilseed species. Understanding parallels between cultivated H. annuus and H. maximiliani may provide new tools for the development of Maximilian sunflower and other wild relatives of sunflower as crops to enhance functional diversity in cropping systems. F2 populations of Maximilian sunflower segregating for traits associated with the domestication ideotype of cultivated sunflower including branching architecture, capitulum morphology and flowering time were developed to investigate parallels between H. maximiliani and H. annuus. Genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) was employed to genotype novel Maximilian sunflower populations and perform quantitative-trait-loci (QTL) analysis. A total of 11 QTL in five regions were identified across 21 linkage groups using 4142 GBS derived single nucleotide polymorphism markers called using the sunflower reference genome as a guide. A major QTL on linkage group 17b, associated with aspects of floral development and apical dominance, was discovered and corresponds with a known domestication QTL hotspot in H. annuus and candidate genes were identified. This suggests the potential to exploit orthologs for neo-domestication of H. maximiliani for traits such as branching architecture, timing of anthesis, and capitulum size and morphology for the development of a perennial oilseed crop from wild relatives of cultivated sunflower.

Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani Schrad.), a crop wild relative of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), has been identified as a species of interest for the development of a perennial oilseed crop. Knowledge of the diversity, the potential for crop development, and genomic resources of this crop wild relative is limited. To facilitate its use in breeding programs, a baseline characterization of locally adapted germplasm is required to develop informed breeding strategies. Individuals were collected from nine sites in southern Manitoba, Canada, and characterized for phenotypic and genotypic divergence to estimate traits of interest for the implementation of a breeding program in Maximilian sunflower. Genotype-by-sequencing was used to characterize population genetic parameters and identify candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with phenotypic divergence and environmental differences between collection sites. Candidate SNPs associated with frost-free period, temperature during the primary vegetative growth period, elevation, soil CaCO₃ equivalent, days to anthesis and capitulum size were identified and may be useful for the improvement of H. maximiliani and crop species related to cultivated sunflower. Associations between temperature, population structure, and overall plant size were also identified, suggesting phenotypic divergence across a local temperature gradient. The sampled Maximilian sunflower populations exhibited a high degree of polymorphism, low levels of inbreeding, and a highly heterozygous genome at the local scale, traits that favor the establishment of locally adapted germplasm pools. There appears to be sufficient variation to make selections for agronomic traits in local germplasm of Maximilian sunflower to support its development as a perennial oilseed.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease of wheat because of direct detrimental effects on grain yield, quality, and marketability and production of mycotoxins (e.g. deoxynivalenol or DO...

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium species is a devastating disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) worldwide. Mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by Fusarium graminearum negatively affect plant and animal health, and cause significant reductions in grain quantity and quality. Resistant cultivars are the only effective way to control this disease; however, the molecular mechanisms of defense resistance are still unclear. To get a clear insight, transcriptional profiling of some subtracted differentially expressed host genes and some fungal expressed genes were carried out for the Sumai 3 wheat cultivar (resistant) and Caledonia (susceptible) at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 144 h post inoculation (hpi) using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). We document in this study the gene patterns of eight up-regulated host clones with significant matches to T. aestivum database and seven fungal clones with significant matches to F. graminearum sequences.

Background Fusarium head blight resistance genes, Fhb1 (for Type-II resistance), Fhb2 (Type-II), and Fhb5 (Type-I plus some Type-II), which originate from Sumai 3, are among the most important that confer resistance in hexaploid wheat. Near-isogenic lines (NILs), in the CDC Alsask (susceptible; n = 32) and CDC Go (moderately susceptible; n = 38) backgrounds, carrying these genes in all possible combinations were developed using flanking microsatellite markers and evaluated for their response to FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation in eight environments. NILs were haplotyped with wheat 90 K iSelect assay to elucidate the genomic composition and confirm alleles’ presence. Other than evaluating the effects of three major genes in common genetic background, the study elucidated the epistatic gene interactions as they influence FHB measurements; identified loci other than Fhb1, Fhb2, and Fhb5, in both recurrent and donor parents and examined annotated proteins in gene intervals. Results Genotyping using 81,857 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers revealed polymorphism on all chromosomes and that the NILs carried 20% of the phenotypic variation in FHB measurements. Conclusions Immediate Sumai 3 derivatives carry a number of resistance improving minor effect alleles, other than Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb5. Results verified that marker-assisted selection is possible for the introgression of exotic FHB resistance genes, however, the genetic background of the recipient line and epistatic interactions can have a strong influence on expression and penetrance of any given gene. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-019-1782-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genetic control of resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) is quantitative, making phenotypic selection difficult. Genetic markers to resistance are helpful to select favorable genotypes. This study was conducted to determine if Fhb1 and Fhb5 present in the Sumai 3 source of FHB resistance occur in Sumai 3-derived North American spring wheat cultivars and to understand the appropriateness of using markers to select for the favorable alleles at these loci in breeding. Sumai 3-derived parents Alsen, ND3085, ND744, Carberry, and Glenn were used in crosses to generate 14 doubled haploid breeding populations. The parents and progeny were genotyped with five Fhb1 and three Fhb5 microsatellite markers. Progeny were selected based on performance relative to parents and other control cultivars in FHB nurseries near Portage la Prairie and Carman, MB. χ2 and t test analyses were performed on marker and FHB data. The χ2 test frequently determined the proportion of lines carrying molecular variants associated with FHB resistance increased following nursery selection for FHB. Similarly, the t test regularly demonstrated that selection for FHB resistance lowered the mean level of disease associated with resistant marker haplotypes. The study affirmed FHB resistance sources Alsen, Carberry, ND3085, and ND744 have Fhb1 and Fhb5 loci like Sumai 3, but no evidence was found that Glenn carries Fhb1 and Fhb5 resistance alleles. The results justified use of Fhb1 and Fhb5 markers for marker assisted selection in populations derived from Alsen, Carberry, ND3085, and ND744, but not Glenn. Combined or individual application of Xgwm493 and Xgwm533 in selection of genotypes carrying Fhb1, and Xgwm150, Xgwm304, and Xgwm595 for Fhb5 will enhance FHB resistance in wheat.

Development and use of resistant wheat cultivars is the most practical and economical approach for the control of Fusarium head blight (FHB). In the present study, a population of recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between ‘AC Brio’ (a Canadian bread wheat cultivar moderately susceptible to FHB) and ‘TC 67’ (an FHB-resistant cultivar derived from Triticum timopheevii) was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FHB resistance using microsatellite molecular markers. Multiple interval mapping detected several QTL for FHB resistance on the chromosomes 5AL and 6A. The QTL detected in the marker interval of cfd6.1-barc48 on chromosome 5AL explained 10.9, 5.2, and 7.8% of phenotypic variation for disease incidence (type I resistance), disease severity (a combination of type I and type II resistance), and Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) (type IV resistance) under field conditions, respectively. The second QTL mapped to 5AL, in the marker interval of cfd39-cfa2185, explained 19.4 and 20.6% of phenotypic variation for FDK under field conditions and disease severity in the greenhouse (type II resistance), respectively. The QTL located on chromosome 6A conferred resistance to disease incidence and severity under field conditions and to disease severity in the greenhouse, explaining 6.8 to 11.8% of phenotypic variation for these traits. Several QTL for agronomic traits were also mapped in this study, including one and two QTL to the chromosomes 2A and 5AL, respectively, all for plant height, and two QTL to chromosome 6A for plant height and flowering date, respectively. The 5AL QTL for FHB resistance mapped in the marker interval of cfd39-cfa2185 in the present study is a novel QTL that originated from T. timopheevii and is reported here for the first time. Further validation of this QTL is required for wheat breeding programs to enhance resistance levels to FHB.

Contamination of wheat grains with Fusarium mycotoxins and their modified forms is an important issue in wheat industry. The objective of this study was to analyse the deoxynivalenol (DON) and deoxynivalenol-3-glucosides (D3G) content in Canadian spring wheat cultivars grown in two locations, inoculated with a mixture of 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON)-producing Fusarium graminearum strains and a mixture of 15-acetlyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON)-producing F. graminearum strains. According to the analysis of variance, significant differences were observed among the cultivars for Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease index, Fusarium-damaged kernel percentage (%FDK), DON content and D3G content. When the effect of chemotype was considered, significant differences were observed for FHB disease index, FDK percentage and DON content. The D3G content and D3G/DON ratio were not significantly different between the chemotypes, except for D3G content at the Winnipeg location. The Pearson correlation coefficient between DON and D3G was 0.84 and 0.77 at Winnipeg and Carman respectively. The highest D3G/DON ratio was observed in cultivars Carberry (44%) in Carman and CDC Kernen (63.8%) in Winnipeg. The susceptible cultivars showed lower D3G/DON ratio compared with the cultivars rated as moderately resistant and intermediate. The current study indicated that Canadian spring cultivars produce D3G upon Fusarium infection.

Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) and stripe rust (P. striiformis f. tritici) affect wheat production worldwide. Brazilian ‘Toropi’ wheat has demonstrated durable leaf rust resistance in South America since its release in 1965. It was previously found to have up to two adult plant leaf rust resistance genes. The leaf and stripe rust resistance of Toropi were studied by analyzing a doubled-haploid population made by crossing with susceptible ‘Thatcher’. Toropi expressed good resistance to leaf rust in Canada, Brazil, and New Zealand. Based on field and greenhouse testing, the leaf rust resistance of Toropi is conferred by two race-nonspecific complementary adult plant genes and a race-specific adult plant gene. The stripe rust resistance of Toropi analyzed in New Zealand and in Canada is based on up to two resistance genes. Toropi should provide an important contribution to rust resistance because it expressed good leaf rust and stripe rust resistance in different parts of the world.

In western Canada and in many agricultural areas around the world, new crop genotypes are evaluated over a number of locations and years in multi-environment trials (MET) to investigate yield, yield stability, agronomic, and quality characteristics, with the ultimate goal to predict future genotype performance in commercial fields. This evaluation informs decisions about the commercial value of new crop genotypes, with a primary user of this information being farmers. Currently in many regions of Canada as the first step in analysis of this MET data, values usually are expressed as a percentage of a designated check genotype value at each site-year (trial), usually followed by a relatively simplistic statistical analysis of this percentage data. There are a number of problems with this traditional approach including selection of an appropriate check genotype or genotypes, and the necessary consistent performance of the check genotype over a number of locations and years. Following the recent approach of other countries and jurisdictions, MET spring wheat genotype yield data (kg ha−1) that had been collected from 2000 to 2009 from various locations in Manitoba, Canada were subjected to mixed model statistical analysis. The results of the mixed model analysis compared very favourably to the historical traditional approach, and proved to be superior in situations such as a specific year in the dataset (2007) when the designated check genotype performed anomalously poorly. These results indicated that as little as five trial sites in a single year provided sufficient data for reliable prediction of a new genotype’s yield performance, given a background dataset comprised of approximately 45 spring wheat genotypes tested over eight years. The wheat genotype yield data also was subjected to estimation of several different stability measures to investigate differences in yield stability between genotypes in the dataset. Results indicated relatively stable yield performance for most genotypes over a range of site-years (environments).

The gene Lr34res is one of the most long-lasting sources of quantitative fungal resistance in wheat. It is shown to be effective against leaf, stem, and stripe rusts, as well as powdery mildew and spot blotch. Recent biochemical characterizations of the encoded ABC transporter have outlined a number of allocrites, including phospholipids and abscisic acid, consistent with the established general promiscuity of ABC transporters, but ultimately leaving its mechanism of rust resistance unclear. Working with flag leaves of Triticum aestivum L. variety 'Thatcher' (Tc) and a near-isogenic line of 'Thatcher' into which the Lr34res allele was introgressed (Tc+Lr34res; RL6058), a comparative semi-targeted metabolomics analysis of flavonoid-rich extracts revealed virtually identical profiles with the exception of one metabolite accumulating in Tc+Lr34res, which was not present at comparable levels in Tc. Structural characterization of the purified metabolite revealed a phenylpropanoid diglyceride structure, 1-O-p-coumaroyl-3-O-feruloylglycerol (CFG). Additional profiling of CFG across a collection of near-isogenic lines and representative Lr34 haplotypes highlighted a broad association between the presence of Lr34res and elevated accumulations of CFG. Depletion of CFG upon infection, juxtaposed to its relatively lower anti-fungal activity, suggests CFG may serve as a storage form of the more potent anti-microbial hydroxycinnamic acids that are accessed during defense responses. Altogether these findings suggest a role for the encoded LR34res ABC transporter in modifying the accumulation of CFG, leading to increased accumulation of anti-fungal metabolites, essentially priming the wheat plant for defense.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat especially in humid and semi-humid wheat growing areas of the world. Agronomic traits such as plant height, flowering date, and presence/ absence of awns play important roles in wheat life cycle and grain yield. In the present study, characterization of agronomic traits and their association with Fusarium head blight were investigated in a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross of Canadian bread wheat cultivar ‘AC Brio’ to Triticum timopheevii-derived line ‘TC 67’. The population was grown under both greenhouse (Winnipeg, MB, Canada) and field (Carman and Glenlea, MB, Canada) conditions and measurements were made for agronomic traits including plant height, flowering date, presence/absence of awns, and glume threshability. The wheat genotypes were also assessed in the greenhouse for disease severity (type II resistance) and in field plots for disease incidence (type I resistance), disease severity (indicating a combination of type I and type II resistance), deoxynivalenol (DON) content (type III resistance), and Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) which is an indicator of type IV resistance. Results showed that there was significant variation in plant height, flowering date, and FHB resistance among the genotypes, and the frequency distributions of these traits were continuous, indicating the quantitative inheritance of the traits. While both plant height and flowering date showed negative correlations with disease incidence, severity, and DON content, they both were positively correlated with FDK under field conditions. In the greenhouse, both plant height and flowering date were positively correlated with disease severity. Awnedness and seed threshability were also significantly associated to all FHB-related traits. While the presence of awns was associated with a significant decrease in FHB, the genotypes that were easy to thresh were more susceptible to the disease. The line ‘TC 67’ with novel FHB resistance derived from T. timopheevii may be useful in wheat breeding, but the positive association of disease resistance with undesirable agronomic traits such as plant height may delay cultivar development efforts.

Field trials were conducted under natural infection and artificial inoculation from 2012 to 2014 at seven sites across the Canadian prairies to determine genetic and management effects on Fusarium ...

The study is an overview of the behavior of the wheat transcriptome to the Fusarium graminearum fungus using two different chemotypes. The transcriptome profiles of seven putative differentially expressed defense-related genes were identified by SSH and further examined using qPCR. Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), caused by several species of the fungus fusarium, is important in all wheat growing regions worldwide. The most dominant species in Canada is Fusarium graminearum (Fg). F. graminearum isolates producing mycotoxins such as 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3ADON) and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15ADON). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the different chemotypes of Fg on the transcriptome pattern of expressed wheat genes. A cDNA library was constructed from infected “Sumai 3” spikes harvested at different times after inoculation with a macroconidia suspension. Employing suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), the subtracted cDNA library was differentially screened by dot-blot hybridization. Thirty-one clones were identified; one was isolated and characterized, and transcriptome profiling of seven up-regulated putative defense-related genes was performed using quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR. These genes may be involved in the wheat-pathogen interactions revealing transcript accumulation differences between the non-diseased, 3ADON-, and 15ADON-infected plants. Additionally, significant differences in gene expression were observed between 3ADON- and 15ADON-infected plants which highlight the significance of a particular chemotype in FHB disease.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat, caused principally by Fusarium graminearum in Canada, results in accumulation of mycotoxins in the grain. The fungus produces deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated forms 3-ADON or 15-ADON. Increasing numbers of F. graminearum isolates collected in Manitoba between 1998 and 2004 were of the 3-ADON chemotype, whereas prior to 1998, the 15-ADON chemotype was considered the only significant cause of FHB in North America. Between 2008 and 2012, a series of studies were conducted at Carman (2008, 2009) and Glenlea, Manitoba (2008–2012) to monitor the ratio of 3-ADON to 15-ADON chemotypes recovered after wheat plots were artificially inoculated, usually in a 1:1 ratio of 3-ADON:15-ADON isolates of F. graminearum. Additional studies were conducted under controlled conditions. In 2008, the majority of isolates recovered from both Carman and Glenlea were of the 3-ADON chemotype. In subsequent years, however, the ratio was closer to 1:1 or sometimes with a slight predom...

Artificial inoculation is required for most studies of cereal rust diseases. The techniques used to inoculate Puccinia triticina Eriks., the causal agent of wheat leaf rust, have been successfully employed for decades without many alterations. Field experiments are often exposed to natural as well as artificial infection. Greenhouse experiments are usually limited by space, particularly if inoculations are conducted on adult plants. Multiple genes present in a cultivar can be differentiated by inoculating the cultivar with different races. This is usually done by inoculating one set of plants with one race and a second set with a second race. A technique was developed to inoculate two or more P. triticina races on a single plant, which saved time, growing space and effort. The difference between rust inoculations with a single race and the double-inoculation technique is that the plants are subjected to two cycles of inoculation. Tillers were divided and covered with vinyl cylinders to protect the...

Fusarium head blight (FHB) continues to threaten the economic sustainability of many small grain producers in Manitoba by causing losses in grain yield and quality. In this 2-year study, four fungicides were tested on two spring wheat cultivars with different levels of resistance to FHB inoculated with 3ADON and 15ADON chemotypes of Fusarium graminearum. All fungicides (prothioconazole, tebuconazole, metconazole and prothioconazole+ tebuconazole) reduced FHB index, per cent Fusarium-damaged kernels (% FDK) and deoxynivalenol (DON) levels and increased yield compared with the non-sprayed control in the moderately resistant cultivar 'Glenn'. In the highly susceptible cultivar 'Roblin', all fungicides reduced FHB index and increased yield compared with the non-sprayed control; however, inconsistent results were observed for FDK and DON. Differences were observed between the two chemotypes for all variables in both years except for FDK and yield in 2010. This study confirmed that host resistance plays an important role in host-pathogen-fungicide interaction. Therefore, the combined effect of growing moderately resistant cultivars with fungicide application can reduce damage caused by FHB even under high FHB severity.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a very important disease of wheat globally. Damage caused by F. graminearum includes reduced grain yield, reduced grain functional quality, and results in the presence of the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol in Fusarium-damaged kernels. The development of FHB resistant wheat cultivars is an important component of integrated management. The objective of this study was to identify QTL for FHB resistance in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of the spring wheat cross Kenyon/86ISMN 2137. Kenyon is a Canadian spring wheat, while 86ISMN 2137 is an unrelated spring wheat. The RIL population was evaluated for FHB resistance in six FHB nurseries. Nine additive effect QTL for FHB resistance were identified, six from Kenyon and three from 86ISMN 2137. Rht8 and Ppd-D1a co-located with two FHB resistance QTL on chromosome arm 2DS. A major QTL for FHB resistance from Kenyon (QFhb.crc-7D) was identified on chromosome 7D. The QTL QFhb.crc-2D.4 from Kenyon mapped to the same region as a FHB resistance QTL from Wuhan-1 on chromosome arm 2DL. This result was unexpected since Kenyon does not share common ancestry with Wuhan-1. Other FHB resistance QTL on chromosomes 4A, 4D, and 5B also mapped to known locations of FHB resistance. Four digenic epistatic interactions were detected for FHB resistance, which involved eight QTL. None of these QTL were significant based upon additive effect QTL analysis. This study provides insight into the genetic basis of native FHB resistance in Canadian spring wheat.

With 10 tables Abstract Preharvest sprouting (PHS) can greatly affect the consistent production of high-quality spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in many regions worldwide including Western Canada. A worldwide collection of red- and white-seeded spring wheat genotypes with different levels of sprouting response were characterized for three PHS traits: falling number, germination index and sprouting index in three different environments in Manitoba, Canada. The data sets were analysed by the genotype and genotype × environment interaction model. Variance components were estimated, genotypic and their interaction effects with environments were predicted by using one of mixed linear model approaches: minimum norm quadratic unbiased estimation approach. Genotypic variance expressed as proportion to the phenotypic variance was higher compared to genotype × environment (G × E) interaction effects for all three PHS traits, suggesting that these genotypes can be used to develop high level of PHS-resistant cultivars regardless of environment. Strong correlations between PHS traits across environments suggest that all three traits are repeatable and reliable methods to determine PHS response in spring wheat depending on sample types (spike, grain or flour). Predicted genotypic effects, G × E interaction effects and the linear discriminant analysis revealed that white-seeded genotypes ‘AUS1408’, ‘SC8019-R1’ and Kanata, and red-seeded genotypes ‘AC Domain’, ‘AC Majestic’ and ‘Red RL4137’ would be useful PHS-resistant donors in spring wheat cultivar development programmes.

Development of high-yielding cereal crops could meet increasing global demands for food, feed and bio-fuels. Wheat is one of the world’s most important cereal crops. The biosynthesis of starch is the major determinant of yield in wheat. Two starch biosynthesis genes, the waxy (Wx) genes and the starch synthase IIa (SSIIa) genes, were amplified and sequenced in 92 diverse wheat genotypes using genome-specific primers. Nucleotide diversity, haplotype analysis and association mapping were performed. The first exon (5′-UTR) and the first intron of the three homoeologous Wx genes were isolated using expressed sequence tag sequences. The Wx genes contained 12 exons separated by 11 introns. SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) frequency ranged from 1 SNP/3,648 bp for Wx-D1 to 1 SNP/135 bp for SSIIa-A1, with an average of 1 SNP/230 bp. The average SNP frequencies in exon and intron regions were 1 SNP/322 bp and 1 SNP/228 bp, respectively. Thirty, 23 and 5 SNPs were identified and formed five, six and five haplotypes for SSIIa-A1, SSIIa-B1 and SSIIa-D1, respectively. However, no association was found between these SNPs and seven yield-related traits. Twenty-two, 15 and 1 SNPs were detected and formed nine, five and two haplotypes for Wx-A1, Wx-B1 and Wx-D1, respectively. Three unique nucleotides C+A+T at SNP5, SNP6 and SNP12 formed Wx-B1-H3, which was significantly associated with increased grain weight, thousand kernel weight, and total starch content in three spring wheat genotypes and five winter wheat genotypes. Cost-effective and co-dominant SNP markers were developed using temperature-switch (TS)-PCR and are being used for marker-assisted selection of doubled haploid lines with enhanced grain yield and starch content in winter wheat breeding programs.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious problem in many wheat-growing areas worldwide. The breeding and cultivation of resistant wheat cultivars is the most promising strategy to reduce the risk of FHB. We report on the comparison of 20 Canadian and 20 European genotypes for FHB response and associated traits (deoxynivalenol content, Fusarium damaged kernels, plant height, heading date) in multi-environmental field trials in Canada and Germany after artificial inoculation with Fusarium culmorum (Germany) / F. graminearum (Canada). Our study revealed Canadian and European wheat lines that were stable in performance across countries and which therefore appear as valuable FHB resistance donors in Canadian as well as in German wheat breeding programs to further improve the resistance level of wheat cultivars against FHB.

Grain hardness is one of the most important quality characteristics of cultivated bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A large deletion in the puroindoline a (Pina) gene or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the puroindoline b (Pinb) gene results in hard grain texture. So far, nine Pina alleles (Pina-D1a–Pina-D1b, Pina-D1k–Pina-D1q) and seventeen Pinb alleles (Pinb-D1a–Pinb-D1g, Pinb-D1p–Pinb-D1ab) have been identified in bread wheat. The major Pina and Pinb alleles identified in hard wheat cultivars are Pina-D1b, Pinb-D1b, Pinb-D1c and Pinb-D1d. In this study, a three-primer PCR system was employed to develop nine co-dominant STS markers for genotyping Pina-D1a and Pina-D1b, whereas temperature-switch (TS) PCR was used to develop six co-dominant SNP markers for genotyping the Pinb-D1a, Pinb-D1b, Pinb-D1c and Pinb-D1d alleles. These STS and TS-PCR markers were used to verify the grain hardness genotype of 100 wheat cultivars. The reliability and genotyping accuracy of TS-PCR markers were confirmed through sequencing of PCR products and a comparison with previously published results. Therefore, STS and TS-PCR markers offer a simple, cost-effective and reliable method for high-throughput genotyping Pina and Pinb alleles to select grain hardness in wheat quality breeding programs and for wheat market classification.

Twenty four isolates of Fusarium graminearum, half of which were 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON) and half 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) chemotypes, were tested for their ability to produce deoxynivalenol and to cause Fusarium head blight (FHB) in spring wheat cultivars. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) whether 3-ADON isolates differ in aggressiveness, as measured by the FHB index, and DON production from 15-ADON isolates under field conditions, and (2) whether the performance of resistant host cultivars was stable across isolates. Field tests of all isolates were conducted with three replicates at each of two locations in Canada and Germany in 2008 with three host genotypes differing in FHB resistance level. The resistant host genotype showed resistance regardless of the chemotype or location. The differences between mean FHB indices of 3-ADON and 15-ADON isolates were not significant for any wheat genotype. In contrast, average DON production by the 3-ADON isolates (10.44 mg kg−1) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than for the 15-ADON isolates (6.95 mg kg−1) at three of the four locations where moderately resistant lines were tested, and at both locations where susceptible lines were evaluated. These results indicate that 3-ADON isolates could pose a greater risk to food safety. However, as the mean aggressiveness and DON production of 3-ADON and 15-ADON chemotypes was similar on highly resistant lines, breeding and use of highly resistant lines is still the most effective measure of reducing the risks associated with DON in wheat.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of many crops into which novel traits have been incorporated using recombinant DNA technology, and thus may require segregation from nontransgenic wheat. Volunteer wheat populations, which cannot be selectively removed from wheat crops, pose a challenge to segregation because they may serve to facilitate trait movement. However, diverse flowering phenologies among wheat genotypes planted at various densities may result in flowering asynchrony, thus minimizing pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF). We tested this theory with a comparative analysis that examined the influence of crop plant population density, genotype, and height on flowering phenology and synchrony between volunteer and cropped wheat populations. We found that time from crop sowing to first flower, peak flowering, and flowering cessation varied significantly among genotypes. Increasing crop plant population density resulted in accelerated crop flowering for all genotypes, but had little effect on flowering synchrony. Although not always significant, the time interval from sowing to 5, 50, and 95% flowering, as well as the flowering duration of the volunteer population, were also greater at low crop plant population densities. Synchronicity of flowering varied among genotypes, with tall genotypes consistently exhibiting more flowering synchrony with volunteer wheat than short genotypes. However, the response of flowering synchrony to height may have been a product of the genotypes tested and further study to confirm these results is needed. The results of this study suggest that, despite a short flowering period, there is considerable potential for flowering synchrony between cropped and volunteer wheat populations. Nevertheless, opportunity exists to reduce flowering synchrony between cropped and volunteer wheat populations by utilizing genotypic variation for flowering phenology to minimize flowering overlap, provided that an adequate crop plant population density is attained.

Exposure of flowering cereal crops to frost can cause sterility and grain damage, resulting in significant losses. However, efforts to breed for improved low temperature tolerance in reproductive tissues (LTR tolerance) has been hampered by the variable nature of natural frost events and the confounding effects of heading time on frost-induced damage in these tissues. Here, we establish conditions for detection of LTR tolerance in barley under reproducible simulated frost conditions in a custom-built frost chamber. An ice nucleator spray was used to minimize potential effects arising from variation in naturally occurring extrinsic nucleation factors. Barley genotypes differing in their field tolerance could be distinguished. Additionally, an LTR tolerance quantitative trait locus (QTL) on the long arm of barley chromosome 2H could be detected in segregating families. In a recombinant family, the QTL was shown to be separable from the effects of the nearby flowering time locus Flt-2L. At a minimum temperature of -3.5 degrees C for 2 h, detection of the LTR tolerance locus was dependent on the presence of the nucleator spray, suggesting that the tolerance relates to freezing rather than chilling, and that it is not the result of plant-encoded variation in ice-nucleating properties of the tiller surface.

Genetically engineered (GE) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) volunteers could present a problem in cultivated wheat because they may facilitate movement of a GE ? trait to other volunteers or non-GE wheat crops. However, volunteers can emerge periodically throughout the growing season and, thus, flowering overlap with the crop may be largely asynchronous, presenting a significant barrier to gene flow. Field experiments were initiated to determine the influence of volunteer wheat emerging at various densities and emergence times relative to the crop on flowering phenology and synchrony between cropped and volunteer spring wheat populations. Using a novel analytical method that treats individual flowering curves as a series of probability density functions, we characterized flowering phenology and quantified flowering synchrony between cropped and volunteer spring wheat. The results indicated that volunteer wheat initiated and ceased flowering earlier when emergence occurred before crop emergence. Thermal time requirements for completion of 5, 50, and 75% flowering decreased as volunteer emergence was progressively delayed. Flowering was further accelerated when emergence coincided with the crop and, consequently, flowering synchrony between volunteer and crop plants was significantly higher. Levels of flowering synchrony peaked at 86% and were highly dependent on volunteer emergence time relative to the crop. Our results suggest that pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF) in spring wheat will be dependent on emergence timing of volunteers and, thus, if hybridization between cultivated wheat and volunteers or neighboring wheat crops is going to transpire, it will most likely occur when volunteer emergence occurs within a hybridization window of 75 growing degree-days on either side of crop emergence. Coupled with seed-mediated gene flow, the additional admixture caused by PMGF could be problematic for coexistence between GE and non-GE wheat.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major downgrading factors for grain producers and can significantly reduce end-use quality. PHS resistance is a complex trait influenced by genotype, environment and plant morphological factors. A population of 185 doubled haploid (DH) lines from the spring wheat cross ‘RL4452/AC Domain’ were used as the mapping population to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with three PHS traits, germination index (GI), sprouting index (SI) and falling number (FN). Six major QTLs linked with PHS traits were mapped on bread wheat chromosomes 3A, 3D, 4A (2 loci), 4B and 7D. ‘AC Domain’ alleles contributed to PHS resistance on 3A, 4A (locus-2) and 4B, and ‘RL4452’ alleles contributed resistance on 3D, 4A (locus-1) and 7D. QTLs detected on chromosome 4B controlling FN (QFN.crc-4B), GI (QGI.crc-4B) and SI (QSI.crc-4B) were coincident, and explained the largest amount of phenotypic variation in FN (22%), GI (67%) and SI (26%), respectively.

Imidazolinone-resistant (IR) spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was released commercially in Canada in 2004, providing growers with a new opportunity to selectively control a broad range of weeds in wheat, including volunteer cereals and annual grasses. Imidazolinone (IMI) herbicides inhibit acetolactate synthase in susceptible (S) plants, but IR wheat plants have an altered target site that confers resistance to IMI herbicides. The IR trait has served as a phenotypic marker in a number of gene flow studies, but the response of IR F 1 wheat hybrids to various doses of imazamox has not been adequately characterized. Therefore, a greenhouse study was initiated to assess the whole-plant response of several spring wheat genotypes with different parental backgrounds to increasing doses of imazamox. No differences in biomass accumulation prior to imazamox application were detected among genotypes. Biomass accumulation after foliar treatment with imazamox was similar within all groups of genotypes, with no significant differences detected within F 1 or S genotype groups. The resistance factor (GR 50 ratio) of the single IR genotype tested in the study was six-fold greater than the mean of the F 1 genotypes, which was itself six-fold greater than that of the S genotypes examined. Differential mortality was observed between some S genotypes at 3.9 g a.i. ha -1 , but no differences between genotypes were observed at any other dose. The results of this study indicate that for the spring wheat genotypes assessed, parental background and market class do not affect spring wheat tolerance to imazamox. Furthermore, results indicate that the IR trait in spring wheat should provide a satisfactory marker for pollen-mediated gene flow studies.

This study identified Fusarium spp. naturally occurring on field stubble. Throughout the 4 years of sampling, seven Fusarium species were isolated from crop stubble. In 2002 and 2003 only the stubble of foundation crops of wheat and oat were colonized by Fusarium spp; low levels were isolated from pea and canola stubble in 2005 and 2006. No consistent pattern of colonisation was observed, suggesting that airborne inoculum, susceptibility of wheat to FHB, and favorable environmental conditions are important factors in epidemics.

Hard white wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a value-added product because of its processing advantages over red wheat; however, white wheat tends to be more susceptible to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS). To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with PHS tolerance, we developed a doubled haploid (DH) mapping population from the cross AC Domain (red seeded) × White-RL4137 (white seeded). A genetic map was constructed using microsatellite markers located on chromosome groups 3, 4, 5 and 6. A population of 174 DH lines was characterized for important aspects of PHS including sprouting index, germination index, Hagberg falling number and seed coat colour. A total of 11 QTLs were identified on group 3 chromosomes and on chromosome 5D. Seven QTLs associated with the PHS traits were found to be co-incident with seed coat colour on chromosomes 3A, 3B and 3D. The 5D PHS QTL was notable because it is independent of seed coat colour.

An F1 derived doubled haploid (DH) population of 402 lines from the adapted spring wheat cross Superb (high yielding)/BW278 (low yielding) was developed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with yield and yield components. A subset of the population (186 lines) was evaluated in replicated field trials in 2001 and 2002 at six locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada. Agronomic parameters, grain yield and yield components including 1,000 grain weight, harvest index, average seed weight spike(-1), seed number spike(-1) and spikes number m(-2) were measured. A genetic map was constructed with 268 microsatellite marker loci and included two morphological genes, reduced plant height, Rht-B1b, and the presence/absence of awns, B1. Composite interval mapping was conducted to estimate the location and effect of QTL associated with the evaluated traits. A total of 53 QTL were identified on 12 chromosomes for the 9 evaluated traits with the coefficient of determination ranging from 0.03 to 0.21 of the total variation. The increase in yield and yield components ranged from 4.5 to 17.1% over the population mean. The five grain yield QTL were detected on chromosomes 1A, 2D, 3B, and 5A and showed a combined increase of 34.4%, over the population mean. The alleles from Superb were associated with increased yield for four of the five QTL. This study identified potential chromosome segments for use in marker-assisted selection to improve yield and yield components in spring wheat.

With the recent interest in genetically engineered (GE) wheat and the commercialization of novel-trait imidazolinone herbicide-resistant wheat in North America, volunteer wheat as a weed has also been the subject of renewed interest, specifically, its recruitment and persistence in annual cropping systems. The recruitment of seed from a wheat seedbank established the previous autumn was monitored in a flax crop at two field sites in southern Manitoba, Canada, in 2003 and 2004. Seeds of eight Canadian Western Hard Red spring wheat cultivars, which exhibit a range of preharvest sprouting-resistance characteristics, were broadcast and incorporated into the soil in the autumn at 500 seeds m−2. Tillage treatments consisted of autumn tillage only, and autumn and spring tillage. Recruitment the following spring occurred very early in terms of accumulated growing–degree days (base temperature of 0 C) but expressed as a proportion of total seeds broadcast was low and variable. Total cumulative emergence of wheat over all 4 site yr ranged from 0.9 to 13.1%, with an overall average of 4.3%. There was no relationship between preharvest sprouting-resistance characteristics and recruitment proportion, and no significant influence of tillage treatment on wheat recruitment. Wheat seed that did not recruit was rapidly degraded in the soil and did not persist for more than 12 mo. However, some emerged volunteer wheat plants escaped all control measures normally used in establishing and growing a typical flax crop, and these escaped volunteer wheat plants set viable seed. Therefore, results of this study indicate that efforts and attention should be directed toward achieving very high levels of volunteer wheat control in subsequent rotational crops and that reseeding by escaped volunteer wheat plants may be a more important persistence mechanism for spring wheat than multiyear soil seedbank persistence.

The large subunit of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), the rate limiting enzyme in starch biosynthesis in Triticum aestivum L., is encoded by the ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit (AGP-L) gene. This was the first report on the development of three genome-specific primer sets for isolating the complete genomic sequence of all three homoeologous AGP-L genes on group 1 chromosomes. All three AGP-L genes consisted of 15 introns and 15 exons. The lengths of the structural genes from start to stop codon were 3334 bp for AGP-L-A1, 3351 bp for AGP-L-B1, and 3340 bp for AGP-L-D1. The coding region was 1569 bases long in all three genomes. All three AGP-L genes encoded 522 amino acid residues including the transit peptide sequences with 62 amino acid residues and the mature protein with 460 amino acid residues. The mature protein of three AGP-L genes was highly conserved. Three AGP-L genes were sequenced in 47 diverse spring and winter wheat genotypes. One and two haplotypes were found for AGP-L-D1 and AGP-L-A1, respectively. In total, 67 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and 13 indels (insertions or deletions) forming five haplotypes were identified for AGP-L-B1. All 13 indels and 58 of the 67 SNPs among the 47 genotypes were located in the non-coding regions, while the remaining nine SNPs were synonymous substitutions in the coding region. Significant LD was found among the 45 SNPs and ten indels located from intron 2 to intron 3. Association analysis indicated that four SNPs were strongly associated with seed number per spike and thousand kernel weight.

Combining physiological, molecular and biochemical approaches, this study investigated the transcriptional coordination and abscisic acid (ABA) mediated regulation of genes involved in sucrose import and its conversion to starch during grain filling in wheat. Sucrose import appears to be mediated by seed localized TaSUT1, mainly TaSUT1D, while sucrose cleavage by TaSuSy2. Temporal overlapping of the transcriptional activation of AGPL1 and AGPS1a that encode AGPase with that of the above genes suggests their significance in the synthesis of ADP-glucose; TaAGPL1A and TaAGPL1D contributing the majority of AGPL1 transcripts. ABA induced repressions of TaSUT1, TaSuSy2, TaAGPL1 and TaAGPS1a imply that ABA negatively regulates sucrose import into the endosperm and its subsequent metabolism to ADP-glucose, the substrate for starch synthesis. The formations of amyloses and amylopectin from ADP-glucose appear to be mediated by specific members of GBSS, and SS, SBE and DBE gene families, and the ABA-induced transcriptional change in most of these genes implies that ABA regulates amylose and amylopectin synthesis. The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the coordination and ABA mediated regulation of sucrose transport into the developing endosperm and its subsequent metabolism to starch during grain filling in wheat.

To gain some insight into the surprisingly frequent occurrence of multiple herbicide resistant wild oat in western Canada, the inheritance of multiple herbicide resistance was studied in two wild oat (Avena fatua L.) populations, UMWO12-01 and UMWO12-03, from Manitoba, Canada. Both populations are resistant to each of three distinct herbicides, imazametha benz-methyl, flamprop-methyl, and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (hereafter referred to as imazamethabenz, flamprop, and fenoxaprop-P, respectively). Crosses were made between each resistant (R) population and a susceptible (S) wild oat population (UM5) (R/S crosses), and between the two resistant populations (R/R crosses). Subsets of parental, F2 plants, and F2-derived F3 (F2:3) families were treated separately with each of the three herbicides and classified as R or S for individual plants, and homozygous R, segregating, or homozygous S for F2:3 families. F2 plants and F2:3 families from R/S crosses segregated in 3R:1S and 1 homozygous R:2 segregating:1 homozygous S ratios, respectively. These ratios indicate that a single dominant or semi-dominant nuclear gene controls resistance to each of these herbicides in each population. F2 plants and F2:3 families from R/R crosses segregated for resistance/susceptibility when treated with either imazamethabenz or flamprop. Therefore, the genes for resistance to these two herbicides are different in each R population. Individual F2:3 family response demonstrated that the genes were not independent of each other, indicating possible linkage between the genes for resistance to each herbicide. Genetic linkage could explain how the wild oat populations developed multiple resistance in the absence of selection by two of the herbicides, imazamethabenz and flamprop. Key words: Wild oat, Avena fatua, herbicide resistance, genetics of resistance, multiple resistance

Mycosphaerella graminicola (anamorph: Septoria tritici), the causal agent of septoria leaf blotch of wheat, has increased in prevalence in the prairie region of Canada in recent years. It is important to know if variation in virulence occurs in the local population as was reported in other countries. Seventy-four pathogen isolates were collected from hexaploid wheat fields in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and tested for virulence on a set of differential genotypes, including four hexaploid and two tetraploid wheat genotypes. Seedlings were inoculated with a conidial suspension and assessed 14 and 21 days later for the presence of necrosis, chlorosis, and pycnidia to identify virulence patterns. Reactions of the differential host genotypes to different isolates ranged from susceptible to near-immune. Adult-plant reactions were similar to seedling reactions for all genotypes used in this study. A difference in virulence patterns on one genotype suggested that physiological specialization occurs and that two vir...

Septoria tritici blotch, caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola, is a serious foliar disease of wheat worldwide. Qualitative, race-specific resistance sources have been identified and utilized for resistant cultivar development. However, septoria tritici blotch resistant varieties have succumbed to changes in virulence of M. graminicola on at least three continents. The use of resistance gene pyramids may slow or prevent the breakdown of resistance. A clear understanding of the genetics of resistance and the identification of linked PCR-based markers will facilitate the recovery of wheat lines carrying multiple septoria tritici blotch resistance genes. The resistance gene in ST6 to isolate MG2 of M. graminicola was mapped with microsatellite markers in two populations, ST6/Erik and ST6/Katepwa. Bulk segregant analysis identified a marker on chromosome 4AL putatively linked to the resistance gene. A large linkage group was identified in each population using additional microsatellite markers mapping to chromosome 4AL. The resistance gene in ST6 mapped to the distal end of chromosome 4AL in each mapping population and was designated Stb7. Three of the microsatellite loci, Xwmc313, Xwmc219 and Xgwm160, mapped within 3.5 cM of Stb7; however, none flanked Stb7. Xwmc313 was the closest and mapped 0.3 and 0.5 cM from Stb7 in the crosses ST6/Katepwa and ST6/Erik, respectively. WMC313 will be very useful for marker-assisted selection of Stb7 in Canadian breeding programs because the ST6 allele of Xwmc313 was not identified in any of the Canadian common wheat cultivars tested.

Mycosphaerella graminicola causes Septoria tritici blotch of hexaploid and tetraploid wheat. The inheritance of high-level resistance to Septoria tritici blotch was studied in controlled environment experiments. Intraspecific reciprocal crosses were made between hexaploid wheat lines Salamouni, ST6, Katepwa, and Erik, and the tetraploid wheat lines Coulter and 4B1149. Parental, F1, F2, F3, BC1F1, and BC1F2 populations were evaluated for reaction to isolates MG2 and MG96-36 of M. graminicola. Resistance was controlled by incompletely dominant nuclear genes in all cases. Salamouni had three independent resistance genes to isolate MG2, two of which also controlled resistance to isolate MG96-36. ST6 had a single resistance gene to isolate MG2 and none to isolate MG96-36. The resistance genes in Salamouni and ST6 were not allelic. Two independent genes control resistance to isolate MG2 in Coulter, one of which also controlled resistance to isolate MG96-36. These data are consistent with a gene-for-gene interaction in the wheat-M. graminicola pathosystem.

The genetics of resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to loose smut caused by Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr. is not well understood. In this study the inheritance of loose smut resistance was studied in two androgenetically derived doubled haploid populations and two inbred random head-to-row populations. The loose smut resistant experimental wheat line HY377 was crossed with the loose smut susceptible line L8474-D1 and the resistant line SC8021V2. Androgenetically derived doubled haploid populations and F4-derived random inbred line populations were produced from each of the crosses HY377/L8474-D1 and HY377/SC8021V2. Lines derived from each cross were grown in the growth room and inoculated with individual and a mixture of races of loose smut. The segregation of resistance between HY377 and L8474-D1 to races T2, T10, T19, and T39 in both doubled haploid and random inbred line populations fit the expected ratio for a single major gene. The same populations inoculated to race T15 showed a different d...