Oligogenic control of resistance to soil‐borne viruses SBCMV and WSSMV in rye (Secale cereale L.)

Abstract

Rye production in European growing areas is constrained by the soilborne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV) and the wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV). To date, no European rye cultivars are known to exhibit resistance against these viruses. In this study, we pursued a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping strategy to identify genomic regions for resistance to SBCMV and WSSMV in rye. Three populations, each comprising 100 lines segregating for resistance to SBCMV and/or WSSMV, were evaluated for disease response at two years in three locations in Germany where soils are naturally infested with SBCMV and WSSMV. In the combined analysis across environments, one QTL for SBCMV resistance on chromosome 5R explained 31.9% of the phenotypic variation in one of the populations. For WSSMV resistance, one QTL explaining up to 64.0% of the phenotypic variation was detected on chromosome 7R in each of the three populations. On the Triticeae homoeologous group 5, we found evidence for synteny of the major QTL for SBCMV resistance between the wheat and rye genomes.

Screening and genetic studies on resistance to Soil-born Cereal Mosaic Virus (SBWMV) in rye

“…Both earlier screenings of rye genomes and the current study indicate that little genetic variability can be expected in adapted rye (Secale cereale), although rye generally shows a high degree of variability as it is a typical open-pollinator. The first studies by Erath et al (2016) as well as the present results show that significant resistance can only be found in wild rye, particularly in the perennial Secale montanum and S. africanum as well as within the annual S. vavilovii. While S. montanum and S. africanum belong to the genome complex of S. strictum, S. vavilovii syn.…”

“…Also in the experiment carried out by Erath et al (2016), no resistance genes have so far been identified that can be used in rye breeding. Additional characterization of the DNA segment on chromosome 2R therefore offers the chance to describe such a gene and to create suitable markers for it.…”

“…Kastirr, personal comm., 2016), maybe due to the genetic heterogeneity of the samples used. Erath et al (2016) tested more than 500 accessions of Secale cereale and S. montanum from 48 different geographical regions in growth chambers with virus-infested soil. Within these genetic resources 35 accessions were detected with a lower infection rate and low virus titre.…”

Genomics-assisted breeding in minor and pseudo-cereals

“…Studies involving the QTL mapping of other minor and pseudo-cereals, however, are relatively limited and mostly include studies in rye (Erath et al 2016, Miedaner et al 2018, Myśków et al 2018, Wang et al 2015, oat (Admassu-Yimer et al 2019, Babiker et al 2015, Pellizzaro et al 2016, Schneider et al 2015, Sunstrum et al 2018, Zimmer et al 2018, and millet. Of the various types of millet, pearl millet (Ambawat et al 2016, Aparna et al 2015, Kumar et al 2016b, 2018, Pucher et al 2018, Punnuri et al 2016, Taunk et al 2018 and foxtail millet (Fang et al 2016, Mauro-Herrera and Doust 2016, Ni et al 2017, Odonkor et al 2018, Wang et al 2017a, 2017b have received the majority of research attention, although one study also focused on proso millet (Rajput et al 2016).…”