Mapping of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance Quantitative Trait Loci in Winter Wheat Cultivar NC‐Neuse

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB), primarily caused by Fusarium graminearum, can significantly reduce the grain quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) due to mycotoxin contamination. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FHB resistance in the moderately resistant soft red winter wheat cultivar NC‐Neuse. A total of 170 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between NC‐Neuse and the susceptible cultivar AGS 2000 were evaluated in inoculated, mist‐irrigated field nurseries. The lines were evaluated for FHB incidence (INC), severity (SEV), Fusarium‐damaged kernels (FDK), and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in seven environments between 2011 and 2014. A 3,419 cM linkage map was developed based on 1839 simple sequence repeat (SSR), diversity array technology (DArT), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Seven FHB resistance QTL on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 1D, 2A, 4A, 5B, and 6A were mapped. The QTL alleles conferring resistance on 1A, 1B, 2A, 4A, and 6A originated from NC‐Neuse, while the alleles associated with resistance on 1D and 5B originated from AGS 2000. Quantitative trait loci effects ranged from 9 to 12% for INC, from 6 to 11% for SEV, from 8 to 20% for FDK, and from 6 to 18% for DON. The QTL on 5B co‐localized with the Vrn‐B1 locus. Kompetitive Allele‐Specific PCR (KASP) assays were developed for each NC‐Neuse QTL region. A preliminary test using these assays on recent Uniform Southern Winter Wheat Nursery (USWWN) entries indicated Qfhb.nc‐1A, Qfhb.nc‐1B, and Qfhb.nc‐6A as likely the best candidates for use in marker‐assisted selection.

Validation of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance QTL in US Winter Wheat

“…nc-6A.3 from the present study overlapped with the QTL regions Q fhb.nc-1A, Q fhb.nc-4A, and Q fhb.nc-6A identified in the NC-Neuse ´ AGS 2000 population (Petersen et al, 2016) (Fig. nc-6A.3 from the present study overlapped with the QTL regions Q fhb.nc-1A, Q fhb.nc-4A, and Q fhb.nc-6A identified in the NC-Neuse ´ AGS 2000 population (Petersen et al, 2016) (Fig.…”

“…Recently, quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring FHB resistance were mapped in the cultivars NC-Neuse (Petersen et al, 2016) and Truman (Islam et al, 2016). Identification and mapping of QTL in US sources of resistance, as well as validation of mapped QTL, remain important research objectives for the efficient use of marker-assisted selection (MAS) (Griffey, 2005;Brown-Guedira et al, 2008).…”

“…Data on INC, SEV, Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK), and DON were collected as described by Petersen et al (2016). Plant height (HT) was measured on experimental entries in KIN13, LW13, KIN14, and LW14, and heading dates (HD) were recorded in all environments.…”

GWAS for Fusarium Head Blight Traits in a Soft Red Winter Wheat Mapping Panel

“…A majority of the SNPs identified in the individual year GWAS decreased SEV in both years and could be a useful tool in selection for resistance, although their absence in the 2‐yr GWAS is not encouraging. Petersen et al (2016) identified resistant QTL on chromosomes 1A, 2A, and 6A associated with SEV in the winter wheat cultivar NC‐Neuse. Liu et al (2013) identified two QTL on chromosomes 1D and 3B that decreased SEV.…”

“…Bonin and Kolb (2009) also reported that chromosome 6B was associated with kernel damage, and Liu et al (2009) identified chromosomes 5B and 6B as important for FHB resistance breeding. In addition, Petersen et al (2016) identified chromosomes 4A and 5B, and Liu et al (2012) observed chromosome 5B to be associated with DON.…”