Characterization of three wheat cultivars possessing new 1BL.1RS wheat-rye translocations

The wheat-rye 1BL.1RS translocation chromosomes have been used widely around the world in commercial wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production because of the presence of several disease resistance genes and a yield enhancement factor on the rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome. However, the recent reports of the loss of complete effectiveness of the disease resistance genes on the most commonly used 1BL.1RS chromosome have highlighted the need to seek and deploy additional sources of disease resistance genes. Three new sibling wheat cultivars, 'CN12', 'CN17' and 'CN18', were developed carrying 1RS arms derived from the rye inbred line L155. Genomic in situ hybridization and C-banding analysis revealed that all the three cultivars contained the rye chromosome 1RS arm fused to the wheat 1BL wheat chromosome arm. The three cultivars displayed high yields and high resistance to local powdery mildew and stripe rust pathotypes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis indicated the different structure of 1BL.1RS chromosome between 'CN18' and the other two cultivars. The present study provides a new 1RS resource for wheat improvement.