Role of Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding Approaches to Combat Stripe Rust of Wheat

Abstract

Puccinia striiformis (Pst) is a devastating biotrophic fungal pathogen that causes wheat stripe rust. It usually loves cool and moist places and can cause 100% crop yield losses in a single field when ideal conditions for disease incidence prevails. Billions of dollars are lost due to fungicide application to reduce stripe rust damage worldwide. Pst is a macrocyclic, heteroecious fungus that requires primary (wheat or grasses) as well as secondary host ( Berberis or Mahonia spp.) for completion of life cycle. In this review, we have summarized the knowledge about pathogen life cycle, genes responsible for stripe rust resistance, and susceptibility in wheat. In the end, we discussed the importance of conventional and modern breeding tools for the development of Pst -resistant wheat varieties. According to our findings, genetic engineering and genome editing are less explored tools for the development of Pst -resistant wheat varieties; hence, we highlighted the putative use of advanced genome-modifying tools, i.e., base editing and prime editing, for the development of Pst -resistant wheat.

Wheat genetic loci conferring resistance to stripe rust in the face of genetically diverse races of the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici

“…Over 300 genomic regions conferring YR resistance in wheat have been reported (Rosewarne et al 2013 ; Wang and Chen 2017 ). Of these, approximately 80 are permanently designated yellow rust resistance ( Yr ) genes, recently summarised by Jamil et al ( 2020 ). To date, 19 designated R genes controlling all-stage resistance to different wheat fungal pathogens have been cloned, and all but two ( Sr60 , a tandem kinase, Chen et al 2020 .…”

Biofortification of Cereals and Pulses Using New Breeding Techniques: Current and Future Perspectives

“…Various types of SSNs, i.e., TALENs, ZFNs, and CRISPR-Cas system are used for plant genome editing (133). Genome editing through CRISPR involves Cas9/13, RNA-guided DNA endonucleases guided by a short guided RNA (sgRNA) resulting in a complex at the target site for targeted gene editing (Figure 2) (127,134). Genome editing was exploited less for biofortification of cereals and pulses; however, some highlighted examples are discussed below.…”

“…It has been ordered by the European court of justice to put CRISPR edited crops under GMO regulation which has complicated the commercialization and trade relation of the European and other countries' markets. Therefore, the dependency of technology adoption and its success is based on not only the evidence and scientific methods but also the non-government agencies, regulators, and consumers' acceptance (127,134,154).…”

Harnessing the potential of plant transcription factors in developing climate resilient crops to improve global food security: Current and future perspectives

“…Economically important fungal diseases are yellow rust, leaf rust, stem rust, spot rust, red rot, sheath blight, rice blast, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and stem canker. Fungal infestation prevents closing of the stomata, damages the xylem cells, disrupt the cuticle layer, causes extensive water loss, decreases leaf and shoot water potential, decrease fresh weight, root number, and length, produces large numbers of brown roots, and reduces uptake and availability of nutrients ( Pandey et al, 2017 , Jamil et al, 2020a ). When plants are subject to fungal attacks, they produce plant hormones, i.e., ethylene, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid.…”