Identification of two novel QTL for Fusarium head blight resistance in German wheat cultivar Centrum

Abstract

Abstract Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease that occurs in warm and humid environments. The German winter wheat cv. Centrum has displayed moderate to high levels of FHB resistance in the field for many years. In this study, a F6:8 recombinant inbred line (RILs) population developed from cross Centrum × Xinong 979 was evaluates for FHB resistance following point inoculation in five environments. The population and parents were genotyped using the GenoBaits Wheat 16K Panel. Two stable QTL associated with FHB resistance in Centrum were mapped on chromosome arms 2DS and 5BS, respectively. The more effective QTL on 2DS, identified as a new locus, was identified in each environment, and was mapped to a 1.4 Mb interval that included 17 candidate genes by using resequencing data. The novel QTL on 5BS mapped to the centromere region of a reciprocal translocation 5BS-7BS chromosome. In addition, two environmentally sensitive QTL were mapped on chromosome arms 2BL from Centrum and 5AS from Xinong 979. Polymorphisms of flanking AQP markers AQP-6 and AQP-22 for the QTL on 2DS were validated in a panel of 217 cultivars and breeding lines. These two markers could be useful for marker-assisted selection of FHB resistance and also provide a starting point for fine mapping and marker-based cloning of the resistance gene.