Abstract
The USDA–ARS National Small Grains Collection (NSGC) maintains germplasm representing global diversity of small grains and their wild relatives. To evaluate the utility of the NSGC durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) accessions, we assessed genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns in a durum core subset containing 429 lines with spring growth habit originating from 64 countries worldwide. Genetic diversity estimated using wheat single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers showed considerable diversity captured in this collection. Average LD decayed over a genetic distance to within 3 cM at r2 = 0.2, with a fast LD decay for markers linked at >5 cM. We evaluated accessions for resistance to wheat stem rust, caused by a fungal pathogen, Puccinia graminis Pers. Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. and E. Henn (Pgt), using races from both eastern Africa and North America, at seedling and adult plant stages. Five accessions were identified as resistant to all stem rust pathogen races evaluated. Genome-wide association analysis detected 17 significant associations at the seedling stage with nine likely corresponding to Sr7, Sr12, and Sr13 and the remaining potentially being novel genes located on six chromosomes. A higher frequency of resistant accessions was found at the adult plant stage than at the seedling stage. However, few significant associations were detected possibly a result of strong G E interactions not properly accounted for in the mixed model. Nonetheless, the resistant accessions identified in this study should provide wheat breeders with valuable resources for improving stem rust resistance.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Plant Genome |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors like to thank Gebre Hiwot Abraham and Beti Hidbo at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research for their technical support during the rust data collection in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. This project was supported in part by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2011-68002-30029 (Tri-ticeae CAP) (SC, HB, JMB), the USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System (MNR), North Dakota Wheat Commission and North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research Education (MA), and by USDA CRIS Project (SC, ASH, DK, SX). Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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