Molecular characterization and validation of adult-plant stripe rust resistance genes in Yunnan hulled wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. yunnanense King)

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-025-04906-y

Theoretical and Applied Genetics，Volume 138, article number116, (2025)

Linyu Huang,Xinyu Wang,Yan Yan,Li Long,Qiushuo Li,Yuexue Wang,Yongjing Liu,Hao Li,Zhien Pu,Wei Li,Qiantao Jiang,Jian Ma,Houyang Kang,Pengfei Qi,Qiang Xu,Yazhou Zhang,Mei Deng,Yuming Wei,Guoyue Chen&Yunfeng Jiang

Key message

Three stable QTLs for adult-plant resistance to stripe rust were identified on chromosomes 2DL, 5B, and 7BS in Yunnan hulled wheat, providing durable high-level resistance through additive effects.

Abstract

Yunnan hulled wheat, a unique subspecies native to China, exhibits excellent adult-plant resistance (APR) to stripe rust. However, the genetic basis of stripe rust resistance in Yunnan hulled wheat remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated an accession from Lancang County, which has shown stable APR under field conditions for over 10 years. To identify the stripe rust gene of Lancang hulled wheat (LC), we developed 108 F5:7recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross LC × Avocet S, followed by multi-environment phenotypic evaluation of APR to stripe rust. Bulked segregant exome capture sequencing and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis identified three stable QTLs on chromosomes 2DL (QYr.LC-2DL), 5B (QYr.LC-5B), and 7BS (QYr.LC-7BS), explaining 11.44–15.74%, 11.27–15.31%, and 12.12–20.00% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. To validate these QTLs, we constructed three independent heterogeneous inbred families (HIF) segregating for QYr.LC-2DL,QYr.LC-5B, and QYr.LC-7BSfrom the RIL populations using QTL-linked molecular markers. Further molecular mapping of these three HIF populations refined the localization ofQYr.LC-2DL,QYr.LC-5B, and QYr.LC-7BSto intervals between markers KP2D-617.34 and KP2D-625.65,KP5B-121.75 and KP5B-262.42, and KP7B-52.54and KP7B-58.54,respectively. Additionally, additive effects were observed forQYr.LC-2DL,QYr.LC-5B, andQYr.LC-7BS, with lines carrying all three loci showing the highest resistance. Moreover, the linked markers of QYr.LC-2DL and QYr.LC-7BScan be effectively utilized for marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding programs. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of stripe rust resistance in Yunnan hulled wheat and offer germplasm for breeding wheat varieties with durable resistance.