Molecular genetic characteristic of soft winter wheat samples in connection with breeding for lodging resistance

Abstract

The objective of the study was to analyze the genomic structure and allelic composition of the dwarfing Rht-B1, Rht-D1 and Rht8 genes in 37 varieties and breeding samples of soft winter wheat in connection with breeding for lodging resistance in the Republic of Belarus. The molecular cytogenetic marking (C-banding) and DNA typing of genotypes were used. As a result, the analysis of the chromosomal composition of the breeding material showed that 21 winter wheat samples are characterized by the standard karyotype with the genomic structure AABBDD (2n = 42). Five variants of translocations affecting the chromosomes 1B, 3B, 5B, 6B, and 7B were revealed in the karyotypes of the remaining samples. It was found that the chromosomes of the 2nd and 4th homologous groups, in which the main dwarfing genes (Rht-B1, Rht-D1, and Rht8) are localized, did not undergo structural changes. Genotyping showed that 45.9 % of the samples contain one of the dwarfing alleles (Rht-B1b, Rht-D1b, Rht8c) in their genotype. A combination of two commercially significant alleles (Rht-B1b and Rht8c) in the genotype were identified in one of the winter wheat samples. The genotype with a combination of the Rht-B1a, Rht-D1a and Rht8b alleles occurred with the highest frequency (37.8 %) in the analysed breeding material. The Rht-B1b, Rht-D1a, Rht8b; Rht-B1a, Rht-D1a, Rht8a genotypes showed the frequency of 16.2 %. The Rht-B1a, Rht-D1a, Rht8c; Rht-B1a, Rht-D1b, Rht8b; Rht-B1a, Rht-D1b, Rht8j genotypes were identified in 5.4 % of the samples; the Rht-B1a, Rht-D1b, Rht8а genotypes – in 8.1 % of the samples. The analysis of the plant height, taking into account the karyotyping and genotyping data showed that the targeted selection of the most efficient allelic combinations of dwarfing genes is important for the cultivation region. The studies carried out allow us to suggest that the selection by the overwintering level can contribute to the fixation of the Rht8b allele in the breeding material, which is apparently associated with better winter hardiness in the conditions of Belarus.