Combined study on genetic diversity of wheat genotypes using SNP marker and phenotypic reaction to Heterodera filipjevi

Wheat is the most important host for cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera filipjevi. The wild relatives of wheat have important sources of resistance genes to cereal nematodes. Phenotypic and genotypic evaluations have important implications for breeding programs, hence in this study information on the reaction of wheat genotypes to H. filipjevi and their genetic relationships are provided. A total of 223 wheat genotypes originating mostly from West Asia and North Africa (WANA countries) were evaluated against the H. filipjevi. Genetic diversity of 188 genotypes were assessed by using a 152 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. Data were analysed using generalized linear model, showed that there are significant differences at P ≤ 0.0001 among the tested genotypes. UPGMA clustering analysis clearly distinguished the genotypes into two main groups based on 840 SNP markers. The first group (A) consisted of 177 accessions containing multiple clusters, whilst the second group (B) with 11 accessions formed only a single cluster. The similarity coefficient between the accessions ranged from 0.30 and 0.99 with an average of 0.64. The present study demonstrated valuable source of resistance to the local population of H. filipjevi in a diverse range of bread wheat landraces that expand our knowledge towards promising perspective in development of resistant genotype in control strategies of cereal cyst nematode.