Characterization, Identification and Evaluation of Wheat-Aegilops sharonensis Chromosome Derivatives

Aegilops sharonensis, a wild relative of wheat, harbors diverse disease and insect resistance genes, making it a potentially excellent gene source for wheat improvement. In this study, we characterized and evaluated six wheat-A. sharonensis derivatives, which included three disomic additions, one disomic substitution + monotelosomic addition and two disomic substitution + disomic additions. A total of 51 PLUG markers were developed and used to allocate the A. sharonensis chromosomes in each of the six derivatives to Triticeae homoeologous groups. A set of cytogenetic markers specific for A. sharonensis chromosomes was established based on FISH using oligonucleotides as probes. Molecular cytogenetic marker analysis confirmed that these lines were a CS-A. sharonensis 2S(sh) disomic addition, a 4S(sh) disomic addition, a 4S(sh) (4D) substitution + 5S(sh)L monotelosomic addition, a 6S(sh) disomic addition, a 4S(sh) (4D) substitution + 6S(sh) disomic addition and a 4S(sh) (4D) substitution + 7S(sh) disomic addition line, respectively. Disease resistance investigations showed that chromosome 7S(sh) of A. sharonensis might harbor a new powdery mildew resistance gene, and therefore it has potential for use as resistance source for wheat breeding.

Automated summary

Aegilops sharonensis, a wild relative of wheat, contains diverse disease and insect resistance genes, which can be used as a valuable gene source for wheat improvement. Molecular cytogenetic marker analysis and disease resistance investigations have identified the potential of A. sharonensis as a new resistance source for wheat breeding.