Genome-wide association study for spot blotch resistance in Afghan wheat germplasm

Spot blotch (SB), caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, is a devastating disease of wheat globally, especially in South Asia and South America. Understanding the genetics of resistance to SB is important for developing breeding strategies to improve resistance. A panel of 301 genotypes from Afghanistan was phenotyped over two crop seasons using a mixture of virulent B. sorokiniana isolates and genotyped using DArTSeq to obtain genome-wide markers. Fifty genotypes (16.6%) showed disease scores less than the resistant control. Principal component analysis using the genotypic data clustered the genotypes into five different groups. Among models used for genome-wide association mapping, the multilocus mixed model, and fixed and random model circulating probability unification algorithms were most effective in identifying significant marker-trait associations (MTA). Twenty-five MTAs at p ≤ .001 were identified on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 1D, 2B, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4A, 5A, 5B, 6A, 7A, and 7D, indicating the quantitative nature of resistance to SB. Phenotypic variation explained by these markers ranged from 2.0% to 17.7%, and genomic regions on the chromosomes 1D, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4A, 5A, and 5B coincided with loci identified in previous studies. Three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on chromosomes 1B (SNP 1113207) and 5A (SNPs 5411867 and 998276) were significant in both crop seasons as well as in the combined analysis across seasons. Marker 5411867 is close to Vrn-A1, shown to be associated with SB in previous studies. Furthermore, among known SB resistance genes, Sb2 on chromosome 5B was predicted to be significant in this panel.     

BNS和BNS366小麦雄性不育与内源激素的关系

【目的】研究BNS和BNS366小麦雄性不育与小孢子发生过程中内源激素含量变化的关系,为激素调控温光敏雄性不育小麦花粉育性提供理论依据。【方法】选用BNS和BNS366为试验材料,分别以矮抗58和郑麦366（BNS366的近等基因系）为对照,进行正常秋季播种（2018年10月10日）和晚播（2018年12月2日）试验,用I₂-KI法测定花粉育性,用国内法和国际法测定自交结实率,采用间接酶联免疫法测定雌雄蕊原基分化期-三核期叶片、雌雄蕊原基分化期-四分体期幼穗和单核中位期-三核期花药中6种内源激素的含量。【结果】在正常秋季播种条件下,BNS和BNS366花粉可育率、国内法自交结实率和国际法自交结实率均为零,达到全不育水平,在晚播条件下,BNS的这三个指标分别为34.74%、43.12%和48.48%,达到低不育水平,BNS366则分别为92.63%、55.37%和67.94%,达到正常可育水平,播种期间差异均达到极显著水平;矮抗58和郑麦366在2种播期条件下,则为82.56%—94.00%、73.90%—82.31%和96.54%—139.26%,均为正常可育,播种期间差异不显著;BNS和BNS366花粉可育率-∆（正常秋季播种条件下比晚播条件下花粉可育率提高百分率）均分别极显著低于矮抗58和郑麦366。分别在2个试验组内进行内源激素含量的多重比较,BNS和BNS366与矮抗58和郑麦366内源激素含量-∆（正常秋季播种条件下比晚播条件下激素含量提高百分率）存在差异,对内源激素含量与花粉可育率、内源激素含量-∆与花粉可育率-∆进行了相关性分析,发现BNS和BNS366不育株在小麦幼穗发育过程中激素含量存在特征性变化。生长素（indole-3-acetic acid,IAA）含量在四分体期（BNS）和雌雄蕊原基分化期（BNS366）叶片中不足,在单核中位期（BNS）和单核靠边期（BNS366）花药中不足,在二核期花药中盈余;赤霉素（gibberellic acid,GA）含量在四分体期幼穗和单核中位期花药中不足;玉米素核苷（zeatin riboside,ZR）含量在叶片、幼穗和花药中均无一致盈亏特征;脱落酸（abscisic acid,ABA）含量分别在四分体期幼穗中存在偏低倾向（BNS）或确定存在不足（BNS366）现象;油菜素内酯（brassinosteroid,BR）含量在叶片、幼穗和花药中均无一致盈亏特征;茉莉酸甲酯（methyl jasmonate,MeJA）含量在雌雄蕊原基分化期、四分体期、单核靠边期（BNS）或单核中位期（BNS366）和三核期叶片中不足,在雌雄蕊原基分化期（BNS）或四分体期幼穗（BNS366）中不足,在单核靠边期花药中不足。【结论】正常秋季播种条件下,单核靠边期之前,BNS和BNS366中IAA、GA和ABA的含量不足,尤其是MeJA的含量不足,可能促进了二者雄性不育的发生。     

Comparison of growth,survivorship, seed production and shedding of eight weed species in a wheat crop in Western Australia

Development of integrated weed management strategies is dependent on a thorough knowledge of the demography of individual species. The current research established eight winter or summer weed species in a winter annual wheat cropping system at Wongan Hills, Western Australia, and investigated emergence of the first cohort of each species, survivorship, plant size, seed production and seed shedding over three years (2016–2019). The winter weeds Bromus diandrus and Lolium rigidum emerged at the same time as the wheat crop, and the initial cohort of marked plants had 100% survival to seed production in each year. By comparison, other winter weed species like Hordeum leporinum, Rumex hypogaeus, Sonchus oleraceus and Polygonum aviculare frequently emerged later than the crop and had a lower percentage of plants surviving to seed production. However, individual S. oleraceus and P. aviculare plants had the greatest seed production compared to other species. All winter weeds had variable patterns of seed shedding between years, with the exception of L. rigidum. Summer weed species emerged at the same time, but plants in the initial cohort of each species did not always survive to produce seed. The early emergence and high survivorship of B. diandrus indicates high competitive ability, but shedding commenced at a similar time to L. rigidum and harvest weed seed control may be a viable control method for this species.     

Exogenous application of allelopathic water extracts helps improving tolerance against terminal heat and drought stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Em. Thell.)

The allelopathic water extracts (AWEs) may help improve the tolerance of crop plants against abiotic stresses owing to the presence of the secondary metabolites (i.e., allelochemicals). We conducted four independent experiments to evaluate the influence of exogenous application of AWEs (applied through seed priming or foliage spray) in improving the terminal heat and drought tolerance in bread wheat. In all the experiments, two wheat cultivars, viz. Mairaj‐2008 (drought and heat tolerant) and Faisalabad‐2008 (drought and heat sensitive), were raised in pots. Both wheat cultivars were raised under ambient conditions in the wire house till leaf boot stage (booting) by maintaining the pots at 75% water‐holding capacity (WHC). Then, managed drought and heat stresses were imposed by maintaining the pots at 35% WHC, or shifting the pots inside the glass canopies (at 75% WHC), at booting, anthesis and the grain filling stages. Drought stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 39%–49%. Foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield of wheat by 26%–31%, while seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 18%–26%, respectively, than drought stress. Terminal heat stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 38%. Seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 21%–27%; while foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield by 25%–29% than the heat stress treatment. In conclusion, the exogenous application of AWEs improved the stay green, accumulation of proline, soluble phenolics and glycine betaine, which helped to stabilize the biological membranes and improved the tolerance against terminal drought and heat stresses.     

Genetic analysis of resistance to spot blotch disease in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Zambia

Understanding the genetics of resistance to spot blotch disease, caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoem, is important to design an appropriate breeding strategy to improve the trait. The objective of this study was to determine the gene action and mode of inheritance of resistance to spot blotch in wheat. Eight genotypes with varying resistance to the disease were crossed in a full diallel mating design. Parents and their progenies were evaluated for spot blotch resistance. Data were analyzed using Hayman’s diallel analysis. The results suggested the importance of additive gene effects in controlling the resistance to spot blotch in the materials under study. No epistasis, maternal, or reciprocal effects were detected. Resistance to spot blotch exhibited partial dominance. Therefore, exercising selection for resistance in the early segregating generation should be an effective approach because of the predominance of additive gene effects. The Wr/Vr graph showed that the parents 30SAWSN5 (P3) and Coucal (P4) possessed more dominant genes, which makes them particularly suitable for inclusion in breeding for resistance to spot blotch.     

宁麦9号与扬麦158株高及其构成因素的遗传解析

宁麦9号与扬麦158是我国长江中下游麦区的主栽品种和骨干亲本,长江中下游麦区近3年来审定品种中80%都是其衍生后代,研究其性状的遗传具重要意义。以宁麦9号与扬麦158为亲本构建的包含282个家系的重组自交系群体为材料,利用Illumina 90k芯片对群体进行基因型分析,建立高密度遗传图谱。连续3个生长季对株高及节间长度、穗长等株高构成因素进行测定,结合遗传图谱对株高及相关性状进行QTL定位,获得14个控制株高及其构成因素的稳定表达位点。通过进一步位置比对,聚焦到6个染色体区段,初步明确了各节间对株高的遗传调控机制。同时,将6个染色体区段中同源性较低的连锁标记转化为适用于高通量筛选的KASP标记,利用101份区域试验材料进行标记效应验证,结果显示聚合Qph-2D与Qph-5A.1两个位点具有较高的选择效率,继续聚合Q2A后,中选材料显著减少,可能降低选择效率;对Q2A与Q5A两个一因多效位点的选择建议以降低株高的等位变异为主;Qd1-5D可作为穗下节间(D1)的选择标记对株高展开优化选择。期望以上结果能为长江中下游麦区的小麦株高遗传改良提供帮助。     

Influence of intra-row cruciferous surrogate weed growth on crop yield in organic spring cereals

In Northern Europe, inter-row hoeing has become a popular tactic for controlling weeds in organic cereals. Hoeing is highly effective and can be implemented from crop emergence until stem elongation to maintain a nearly weed-free inter-row zone. However, hoeing has a lesser effect on weeds growing in the intra-row zone, where crop–weed proximity results in heightened competition. In the hoed cereal system, it is investigated whether tall-growing, competitive, cruciferous weeds in the intra-row zone affect crop biomass, yield and thousand kernel weight (TKW). An additive experimental design is employed to enable the fitting of rectangular hyperbolas, describing and quantifying the effects of increasing intra-row surrogate weed density on crop growth parameters. Regressions were studied under the influence of crop (spring barley and spring wheat), row spacing (narrow [12.5 or 15.0 cm] and wide [25.0 cm]) and nitrogen rate (50 and 100 kg NH₄-N/ha). Cruciferous surrogate weeds were found to impact crop yield and quality severely. For example, ten intra-row plants/m² of surrogate weed Sinapis alba reduced grains yields by 7%–14% in spring barley and by 7%–32% in spring wheat with yield losses becoming markedly greater in wheat compared to barley as weed density increases. Compared to wheat, barley limited yield and quality losses and suppressed intra-row weed growth more. Row spacing did not have a consistent effect on crop or weed parameters; in one of six experiments, the 25 cm row spacing reduced yields and increased intra-row weed biomass in wheat. Nitrogen rate did not affect crop or weed parameters. Results warrant the implementation of additional tactics to control intra-row weeds and limit crop losses.     

小麦株高QTL Qph.nau-5B的效应评价

株高直接影响小麦的产量潜力,也是植株抗倒伏性的重要组成部分。目前虽有大量株高相关QTL被鉴定到,但大多QTL的遗传效应仍不清楚。本研究前期利用小麦品种群体,通过关联分析鉴定到一个小麦株高主效QTL Qph.nau-5B。为了评价该QTL的效应,通过分子标记辅助选择分别构建了以南大2419、吉春1016和郑麦9023为供体亲本,中优9507为背景的3种等位变异的近等基因系,背景回复率均高于93%。在7个独立的试验环境中,所有近等基因系的株高较轮回亲本均显著降低,平均降幅为11.1 cm(10.3%)。Qph.nau-5B不同等位变异效应强弱不同,其中来源于吉春1016和郑麦9023的等位变异平均降秆效应相似(12.4 cm),显著大于南大2419的等位变异(8.6 cm),但各等位变异相对降秆效应大小受环境影响。此外,Qph.nau-5B对单株穗数、穗长、千粒重等农艺性状无明显负效应。本研究结果表明Qph.nau-5B具有重要的育种价值,可为小麦的株型分子设计育种提供基因资源。     

Infection processes and soft wheat response to root rot and crown rot caused by Fusarium culmorum

An isolate of the fungus Fusarium culmorum constitutively expressing green fluorescent protein was used to investigate the infection process and host response of primary seedling roots and stem base leaf sheaths of soft wheat cv. Genio. Disease progress was assessed macroscopically by visual symptoms, microscopically by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and via gene expression analysis of fungal and wheat genes by real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR. In the roots, CLSM investigations revealed an initial intercellular and subsequent intracellular colonization by fungal hyphae. The fungus invaded the rhizodermal layer and cortex but was not seen to colonize the stele. The fungus consistently expressed TRI5 (24, 48 and 96 h post‐inoculation), indicating that trichothecenes were being synthesized throughout this phase of infection and colonization. The expression of the six host defence‐associated genes (Wheatwin 1‐2, PR1, Chitinase, PAL, WIR1 and LOX) increased early in infection and decreased during later stages. In the stem base, CLSM observations revealed the fungus sequentially penetrating though the first, second and third basal leaf sheaths. Expression of TRI5 was initiated early in the infection of each leaf sheath. The expression of the host defence‐associated genes varied over time and across leaf sheaths, and all were also expressed in leaf sheaths which had not yet been in contact with the fungus. Expression of LOX and WIR1 were particularly enhanced in the third leaf sheath.     

Relative importance of different types of inoculum to the establishment of Mycosphaerella graminicola in wheat crops in north‐west Europe

The contribution of wheat debris to the early stages of septoria leaf blotch epidemics was assessed in a 3‐year field experiment. First lesions were detected very early (December) in the case of an early sowing (mid‐October), showing that the first contamination could occur as soon as the seedlings emerge. The tested debris management options (chopped debris, removal of debris followed by tillage, or tillage in absence of debris) had a strong effect, although transient, on the epidemic dynamic: the more debris present on the soil surface, the more severe initial disease was. The magnitude of differences between treatments differed substantially between years. The relative production of pycnidiospores and ascospores was measured on the chopped debris. Peaks in pycnidiospore and ascospore production coincided in October–November. Both types of spores can be involved as primary inoculum in north‐west European conditions. The local amount of pycnidiospores available on debris in the field, estimated per square metre, was 1000‐fold the local ascospore production. Moreover, inoculum production was quantified on debris exposed to different environmental conditions. Autumnal conditions, characterized by moderate temperature with alternating wet and dry periods, were favourable for the production of both pycnidiospores and ascospores, as shown by the high inoculum production on debris exposed to field or outdoor conditions. By late autumn, the canopy became the most important source of pycnidiospores, and this period, characterized by the decreasing role of debris as a local source of inoculum compared to distant potential sources, can be considered as the end of the early epidemic stages.