"Perfect" markers for the Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b dwarfing genes in wheat

PCR-based markers were developed to detect the point mutations responsible for the two major semi-dwarfing genes Rht-B1b ( Rht1) and Rht-D1b ( Rht2) in wheat. These markers were validated by testing 19 wheat varieties of known Rht genotype. They included Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b dwarfs, double-mutant varieties and tall wheats. These were correctly genotyped with the Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b-specific primers, as well as markers specific for the tall alleles Rht-B1a and Rht-D1a. Using a family of doubled-haploid lines segregating for Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b, the markers were mapped to the expected homoeologous regions of chromosomes 4B and 4D, respectively. Both markers were strongly correlated with a reduction in height, accounting for 23% ( Rht-B1b) and 44% ( Rht-D1b) of the phenotypic variance in the population. These markers will have utility in marker-assisted selection of the Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b genes in wheat breeding programs.     

青海育成小麦5个主效矮秆基因的分子检测

为系统了解青海小麦矮秆基因的分布特点,并进一步为青海高原小麦的株高育种提供优异种质资源。本研究利用5个矮秆基因的特异性分子标记对82份青海小麦品种资源中的矮秆基因进行了检测,并对不同矮秆基因的降秆效应进行了分析。结果表明:82份青海育成小麦品种中有49份材料至少含有一个矮秆基因,其中Rht-B1b的分布频率最高,约占参试材料的28.0%,其次是分布频率为23.2%的Rht8基因,而矮秆基因Rht-D1b、Rht5以及Rht12的分布频率分别为9.8%、13.4%、9.8%。在49份含有不同种类矮秆基因的材料中,其中16份材料同时含有2种及以上的矮秆基因,即RhtB1b和Rht8、Rht-D1b和Rht8、Rht-B1b和Rht5、Rht-D1b和Rht5、Rht8和Rht5、Rht-B1b和Rht12、Rht5和Rht12,并未发现同时含有矮秆基因Rht-B1b和Rht-D1b的品种;2份材料分别含有3种矮秆基因,即Rht-B1b、Rht8、Rht12和Rht-B1b、Rht5、Rht8;其余31份材料仅含有1种矮秆基因。82份青海育成小麦材料中仅含有Rht-B1b的材料11份,平均株高为86.2 cm,其降秆效应为5.7%;只含有Rht-D1b的材料有5份,平均株高为84.9 cm,其降秆效应为7.1%;仅含有Rht8的材料有9份,平均株高为88.6 cm,其降秆效应为3.1%。因此,在青海育成小麦品种中,矮秆基因的降秆效应为Rht-D1bRht-B1bRht8。     

In vitro expression of genes affecting whole plant phenotype — the effect of Rht/Gai alleles on the callus culture response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell)

Summary Calli were initiated from immature embryos of 12 lines of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell). The lines were from 3 varieties — April Bearded, Bersee and Maris Huntsman — isogenic for the reduced height/gibberellic acid insensitivity (Rht) genes — Rht1, Rht2 and Rht3 — and the tall (rht) allele. The dwarfing genes had significant effects on the growth and morphogenesis of calli. The genes interacted with the 2,4-D in the medium and the varietal background. Calli of each line were cultured in the presence and absence of 1 mg/l of gibberellic acid (GA), but there was no interaction of the Rht genes with GA in vitro. The effect of the Rht genes is discussed in relation to their effects on cellular hormone metabolism and their involvement in previously described chromosome 4B effects in culture.     

Mapping gibberellin-sensitive dwarfing locus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rht18</Emphasis> in durum wheat and development of SSR and SNP markers for selection in breeding

Gibberellin-sensitive dwarfing gene Rht18 was mapped in two durum wheat recombinant inbred lines (RIL) populations developed from crosses, Bijaga Yellow/Icaro and HI 8498/Icaro. Rht18 was mapped within genetic interval of 1.8 cM on chromosome 6A. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers S470865SSR4, barc37 and TdGA2ox-A9 specific marker showed co-segregation with Rht18 in Bijaga Yellow/Icaro population consisting 256 RILs. Effect of Rht18 on plant height was validated in HI 8498/Icaro RIL population which segregated for Rht18 and Rht-B1b. Rht-B1b from HI 8498 showed pleiotropic effect on plant height and coleoptile length, on the other hand, Rht18 did not show effect on coleoptile length. The SSR and SNP markers linked to Rht18 were also validated by assessing their allelic frequency in 89 diverse durum and bread wheat accessions. It was observed that 204 bp allele of S470865SSR4 could differentiate Icaro from rest of the wheat accessions except HI 8498, suggesting its utility for selection of Rht18 in wheat improvement programs. Rht18 associated alleles of TdGA2ox-A9, IAW4371 and IAW7940 were absent in most of the tall Indian local durum wheat and bread wheat, hence could be used to transfer Rht18 to bread wheat and local durum wheat. SSR marker barc3 showed high recombination frequency with Rht18, though it showed allele unique to Icaro. Since semidwarf wheat with GA-sensitive dwarfing genes are useful in dry environments owing to their longer coleoptile, better emergence and seedling vigor, Rht18 may provide a useful alternative to widely used GA-insensitive dwarfing genes under dry environments.     

矮秆基因对小麦部分农艺性状的效应

以中国主要麦区的124份小麦品种为材料,利用分子标记和系谱分析相结合,对其按照所含的矮秆基因Rht-B1b、Rht-D1b和Rht8进行分类,结合田间株高、旗叶长、小穗数和穗粒数以及室内苗期根系长度等农艺形状的调查,分析不同矮秆基因对小麦农艺性状的效应.结果显示:(1)参试的124份小麦品种(系)中23份含有Rht-B1b,7份含有Rht-D1b,22份含有Rht8基因,34份同时含有Rht-B1b和Rht8,16份同时含有Rht-D1b和Rht8,可分为6组.(2)Rht-B1b和Rht-D1b在降低株高的同时也缩短了旗叶的长度和苗期叶长,Rht8对株高的影响较弱,对旗叶和苗期叶长的影响也较小;3个矮秆基因对苗期根系长度、小穗数没有显著影响;Rht-D1b和Rht8显著增加穗粒数.研究表明,矮秆基因Rht8对小麦株高以及其他农艺性状的影响均较小,但能够显著增加穗粒数,是小麦矮化育种中比较理想的矮秆基因.     

Effects of the alleles of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rht8</Emphasis> gene on the agricultural traits of bread winter wheat under conditions of the steppe region of the Southern Ukraine

Resistance to frost and winter hardiness, as well as crop capacity and its components, were studied in the recombinant-inbred F₅ Odesskaya and 16/Bezostayal lines and also in 61 lines of winter wheat carrying different alleles of the Rht8 gene. We observed no influence of different alleles of the Rht8 gene on the traits under consideration. The preponderance of the Rht8c allele in modern wheat lines developed at the Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute is therefore a result of its being the most frequently used allele in the genetic pool since 1959.     

易组"太谷核不育基因"(Ms2)基因定位的研究

将在远缘杂交中由普通小麦（AABBDD）4D染色体易组导入六倍体小黑麦（AABBRR）以及硬粒小麦（AABB）的太谷核不育基因Ms2（原位于普通小麦4D染色体短臂距着丝点31．2cM的显性雄性不育核基因）。重新异回普通小麦染色体组中,所获得携带易组Ms2基因的新型太谷核不育小麦其显性雄性不育特性表达正常,且雄性不育株的雌性可育机制正常,对不育株幼穗花粉母细胞减数分型期染色体构型的观察可见其为整倍体（2n=42),尚未发现回归普通小麦的易组太谷核不育与原位 的太谷核不育基因有不同的表型。采用系统的标志基因测交法对回归普通小麦的易组太谷不育基因进行测交定位,发现易组Ms2基因与普通小麦显性秆标志基因Rht3连锁,从而将其定位于普通小麦4B 色体虎Rht3基因9.7cM处,新位点被命名为Ms2（4BS）,对Ms2基因在六倍体小黑麦与原太谷核不育小麦远缘杂交中位时的走向,普通小麦4A与4B染色体的互换更名以及Ms2（4BS）新位点的开发利用进行了讨论,认为异源多倍体生物核基因的组间易位倾向于从供体染色体向进化亲缘关系较密切,且染色体序数与染色体臂相同的部分同源染色体易位;1988年第7届国际小麦遗传学会对普通小麦4A与4B染色体的互换更名是正确的;Ms2（4BS）作为一个新型的遗传标记,作为小麦族内所有携带B染色体组的物种的育种工具和在拓建各为小麦种质资源的基因库等方面均有广泛的用途。     

The effects of gene Rht8 alleles in agronomic traits of winter bread wheat in the conditions of South Steppe of the Ukraine

Resistance to frost, winterhardiness, yield and its components were investigated in recombinant-inbred lines F5 Odesskaya 16/Bezostaya 1 and 61 winter wheat varieties differing on the alleles of Rht8 gene. The absence of influence of gene Rht8 different alleles on the tested traits was shown. The high frequency of distribution of alleles Rht8c in modern wheat varieties developed in Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute is a result of high frequency of use of this allele in genetic pool after 1959.     

Analysis of the short-stem genes in the genotypes of bread wheat cultivars in Ukraine

Varieties of winter common wheat widely used in breeding programmes for the period of 1912-2002 in Ukraine were investigated using both the microsatellite Xgwm261 marker linked with the gibberellin-sensitive dwarf gene Rht8 and the biochemical test for the sensitivity of seedlings to gibberellic acid. Allelic characteristics of the locus Xgwm261 have been determined for 97 varieties. Near 98% of the modern varieties of winter common wheat derived from Odessa breeding institute and 50% of the varieties derived from the Mironovka wheat institute possess the allel 192 n.p. and gene Rht8 correspondingly. Estimation of sensitivity of the seedlings to gibberellic acid showed that the majority of the varieteis cultivated in Ukraine until the middle of the seventies are sensitive to gibberellic acid. The insusceptibility to gibberellic acid is predominantly manifested in the varieties derived from the south of Ukraine since the eighties owing to the introduction of the dwarf genes into the genotypes. At the same time the varieties of the Mironovka wheat institute still retain the sensitivity.     

Low Temperature-Induced GA(3) Sensitivity of Wheat : I. Characterization of the Low Temperature Effect on Isolated Aleurone OF KITE

Gibberellic acid (GA₃) sensitivity (measured as α-amylase production) of the isolated aleurone tissue/deembryonated seed of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var Kite and var Aroona) varieties each containing either one of the dwarfing genes, Rht1 and Rht2, was increased significantly as a result of low temperature treatment. The magnitude of the low temperature-induced increase occurred without any change in the lag time of α-amylase production. This low temperature induction of GA₃ sensitivity was found to be operative in aleurone tissue of only those varieties having at least one of the three Rht alleles. It is likely, therefore, that the low temperature treatment effect which `cures' or circumvents the genetic lesions manifest in the Rht1 and Rht2 genotypes is the same as that effective in the Rht3-containing genotype and probably involves an increase in hormone (GA₃) receptor sites. Furthermore, this increase appears to be a quantitative temporal one.     

Genetic and physiological analysis of Rht8 in bread wheat: an alternative source of semi-dwarfism with a reduced sensitivity to brassinosteroids

Over the next decade, wheat grain production must increase to meet the demand of a fast growing human population. One strategy to meet this challenge is to raise wheat productivity by optimizing plant stature. The Reduced height 8 (Rht8) semi-dwarfing gene is one of the few, together with the Green Revolution genes, to reduce stature of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and improve lodging resistance, without compromising grain yield. Rht8 is widely used in dry environments such as Mediterranean countries where it increases plant adaptability. With recent climate change, its use could become increasingly important even in more northern latitudes. In the present study, the characterization of Rht8 was furthered. Morphological analyses show that the semi-dwarf phenotype of Rht8 lines is due to shorter internodal segments along the wheat culm, achieved through reduced cell elongation. Physiological experiments show that the reduced cell elongation is not due to defective gibberellin biosynthesis or signalling, but possibly to a reduced sensitivity to brassinosteroids. Using a fine-resolution mapping approach and screening 3104 F(2) individuals of a newly developed mapping population, the Rht8 genetic interval was reduced from 20.5 cM to 1.29 cM. Comparative genomics with model genomes confined the Rht8 syntenic intervals to 3.3 Mb of the short arm of rice chromosome 4, and to 2 Mb of Brachypodium distachyon chromosome 5. The very high resolution potential of the plant material generated is crucial for the eventual cloning of Rht8.     

A modern Green Revolution gene for reduced height in wheat

Increases in the yield of wheat during the Green Revolution of the late 20^th century were achieved through the introduction of Reduced height (Rht) dwarfing genes. The Rht‐B1 and Rht‐D1 loci ensured short stature by limiting the response to the growth‐promoting hormone gibberellin, and are now widespread through international breeding programs. Despite this advantage, interference with the plant's response to gibberellin also triggers adverse effects for a range of important agronomic traits, and consequently modern Green Revolution genes are urgently required. In this study, we revisited the genetic control of wheat height using an association mapping approach and a large panel of 1110 worldwide winter wheat cultivars. This led to the identification of a major Rht locus on chromosome 6A, Rht24, which substantially reduces plant height alone as well as in combination with Rht‐1b alleles. Remarkably, behind Rht‐D1, Rht24 was the second most important locus for reduced height, explaining 15.0% of the genotypic variance and exerting an allele substitution effect of –8.8 cm. Unlike the two Rht‐1b alleles, plants carrying Rht24 remain sensitive to gibberellic acid treatment. Rht24 appears in breeding programs from all countries of origin investigated, with increased frequency over the last decades, indicating that wheat breeders have actively selected for this locus. Taken together, this study reveals Rht24 as an important Rht gene of commercial relevance in worldwide wheat breeding.     

Clarification of the Rht8-Ppd-D1 gene linkage on the 2D chromosome of winter bread wheat

In the south part of Ukraine the haplotype of Rht8c and Ppd-D1 genes is widely distributed among modern bread wheat varieties. During the time of scientific breeding program it has been selected as one of the most important adaptive complexes for plants of this region. The genetic distance between the Rht8 and Ppd-D1 genes was clarified.     

Identification and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rht25</Emphasis>, a locus on chromosome arm 6AS affecting wheat plant height,heading time,and spike development

Key message

This study identified Rht25, a new plant height locus on wheat chromosome arm 6AS, and characterized its pleiotropic effects on important agronomic traits.

Abstract

Understanding genes regulating wheat plant height is important to optimize harvest index and maximize grain yield. In modern wheat varieties grown under high-input conditions, the gibberellin-insensitive semi-dwarfing alleles Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b have been used extensively to confer lodging tolerance and improve harvest index. However, negative pleiotropic effects of these alleles (e.g., poor seedling emergence and reduced biomass) can cause yield losses in hot and dry environments. As part of current efforts to diversify the dwarfing alleles used in wheat breeding, we identified a quantitative trait locus (QHt.ucw-6AS) affecting plant height in the proximal region of chromosome arm 6AS (<?0.4 cM from the centromere). Using a large segregating population (~?2800 gametes) and extensive progeny tests (70–93 plants per recombinant family), we mapped QHt.ucw-6AS as a Mendelian locus to a 0.2 cM interval (144.0–148.3 Mb, IWGSC Ref Seq v1.0) and show that it is different from Rht18. QHt.ucw-6AS is officially designated as Rht25, with Rht25a representing the height-increasing allele and Rht25b the dwarfing allele. The average dwarfing effect of Rht25b was found to be approximately half of the effect observed for Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b, and the effect is greater in the presence of the height-increasing Rht-B1a and Rht-D1a alleles than in the presence of the dwarfing alleles. Rht25b is gibberellin-sensitive and shows significant pleiotropic effects on coleoptile length, heading date, spike length, spikelet number, spikelet density, and grain weight. Rht25 represents a new alternative dwarfing locus that should be evaluated for its potential to improve wheat yield in different environments.

     

Genetic analysis of the dwarfing gene Rht8 in wheat. Part II. The distribution and adaptive significance of allelic variants at the Rht8 locus of wheat as revealed by microsatellite screening

 Wheat microsatellite WMS 261 whose 192-bp allele has been shown to be diagnostic for the commercially important dwarfing gene Rht8 was used to screen over 100 wheat varieties to determine the worldwide spread of Rht8. The results showed Rht8 to be widespread in southern European wheats and to be present in many central European wheats including the Russian varieties ‘Avrora’, ‘Bezostaya’ and ‘Kavkaz’. Rht8 appears to be of importance to South European wheats as alternative giberellic acid (GA)-insensitive dwarfing genes do not appear to be adapted to this environment. The very successful semi-dwarf varieties bred by CIMMYT, Mexico, for distribution worldwide have been thought to carry Rht8 combined with GA-insensitive dwarfing genes. Additional height reduction would have been obtained from pleiotropic effects of the photoperiod-response gene Ppd1 that is essential to the adaptability of varieties bred for growing under short-winter days in tropical and sub-tropical areas. The microsatellite analysis showed that CIMMYT wheats lack Rht8 and carry a WMS 261 allelic variant of 165 bp that has been associated with promoting height. This presumably has adaptive significance in partly counteracting the effects of other dwarfing genes and preventing the plants being too short. Most UK, German and French wheats carry an allelic variant at the WMS 261 locus with 174 bp. This could be selected because of linkage with the recessive photoperiod-sensitive ppd1 allele that is thought to offer adaptive significance northern European wheats. Received: 17 October 1997 / Accepted: 12 November 1997     

Regulatory options for genetically modified crops in India

The introduction of semi‐dwarfing, high‐yielding and nutrients‐responsive crop varieties in the 1960s and 1970s alleviated the suffering of low crop yield, food shortages and epidemics of famine in India and other parts of the Asian continent. Two semi‐dwarfing genes, Rht in wheat and Sd‐1 in rice heralded the green revolution for which Dr. Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. In contrast, the revolutionary new genetics of crop improvement shamble over formidable obstacles of regulatory delays, political interferences and public misconceptions. India benefited immensely from the green revolution and is now grappling to deal with the nuances of GM crops. The development of GM mustard discontinued prematurely in 2001 and insect‐resistant Bt cotton varieties were successfully approved for commercial cultivation in 2002 in an evolving nature of regulatory system. However, the moratorium on Bt brinjal by MOEF in 2010 meant a considerable detour from an objective, science‐based, rigorous institutional process of regulatory approval to a more subjective, nonscience‐driven, political decision‐making process. This study examines what ails the regulatory system of GM crops in India and the steps that led to the regulatory logjam. Responding to the growing challenges and impediments of existing biosafety regulation, it suggests options that are critical for GM crops to take roots for a multiplier harvest.     

Effects of dwarfing genes on the genetic background of wheat varieties in southern Ukraine

The effects of the Rht8c, Rht-B1b, Rht-B1e, and Rht-D1b genes on wheat height have been investigated. Variations in these effects are significantly modified by the genetic background and year conditions. A combination of the Rht8c, Rht-B1a, Rht-D1b, and Ppd-D1a alleles is the most advantageous for the conditions of southern Ukraine, since it is associated with optimal plant height under contrasting conditions within different years. The genotypes of some varieties were shown to include gene(s) that were unidentifiable by the molecular markers and significantly decreased plant height.     

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of European Hexaploid Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties

Progress in plant breeding is facilitated by accurate information about genetic structure and diversity. Here, Diversity Array Technology (DArT) was used to characterize a population of 94 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties of mainly European origin. In total, 1,849 of 7,000 tested markers were polymorphic and could be used for population structure analysis. Two major subgroups of wheat varieties, GrI and GrII, were identified using the program STRUCTURE, and confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). These subgroups were largely separated according to origin; GrI comprised varieties from Southern and Eastern Europe, whereas GrII contained mostly modern varieties from Western and Northern Europe. A large proportion of the markers contributing most to the genetic separation of the subgroups were located on chromosome 2D near the Reduced height 8 (Rht8) locus, and PCR-based genotyping suggested that breeding for the Rht8 allele had a major impact on subgroup separation. Consistently, analysis of linkage disequilibrium (LD) suggested that different selective pressures had acted on chromosome 2D in the two subgroups. Our data provides an overview of the allele composition of bread wheat varieties anchored to DArT markers, which will facilitate targeted combination of alleles following DArT-based QTL studies. In addition, the genetic diversity and distance data combined with specific Rht8 genotypes can now be used by breeders to guide selection of crossing parents.     

The 'Green Revolution' dwarfing genes play a role in disease resistance in Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare

The Green Revolution dwarfing genes, Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b, encode mutant forms of DELLA proteins and are present in most modern wheat varieties. DELLA proteins have been implicated in the response to biotic stress in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Using defined wheat Rht near-isogenic lines and barley Sln1 gain of function (GoF) and loss of function (LoF) lines, the role of DELLA in response to biotic stress was investigated in pathosystems representing contrasting trophic styles (biotrophic, hemibiotrophic, and necrotrophic). GoF mutant alleles in wheat and barley confer a resistance trade-off with increased susceptibility to biotrophic pathogens and increased resistance to necrotrophic pathogens whilst the converse was conferred by a LoF mutant allele. The polyploid nature of the wheat genome buffered the effect of single Rht GoF mutations relative to barley (diploid), particularly in respect of increased susceptibility to biotrophic pathogens. A role for DELLA in controlling cell death responses is proposed. Similar to Arabidopsis, a resistance trade-off to pathogens with contrasting pathogenic lifestyles has been identified in monocotyledonous cereal species. Appreciation of the pleiotropic role of DELLA in biotic stress responses in cereals has implications for plant breeding.     

Molecular mapping of gibberellin-responsive dwarfing genes in bread wheat

Opportunities exist for replacing reduced height (Rht) genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b with alternative dwarfing genes for bread wheat improvement. In this study, the chromosomal locations of several height-reducing genes were determined by screening populations of recombinant inbred lines or doubled haploid lines varying for plant height with microsatellite markers. Linked markers were found for Rht5 (on chromosome 3BS), Rht12 (5AL) and Rht13 (7BS), which accounted for most of the phenotypic variance in height in the respective populations. Large height differences between genotypes (up to 43 cm) indicated linkage to major height-reducing genes. Rht4 was associated with molecular markers on chromosome 2BL, accounting for up to 30% of the variance in height. Confirming previous studies, Rht8 was linked to markers on chromosome 2DS, whereas a population varying for Rht9 revealed a region with a small but significant height effect on chromosome 5AL. The height-reducing effect of these dwarfing genes was repeatable across a range of environments. The molecular markers developed in this study will be useful for marker-assisted selection of alternative height-reducing genes, and to better understand the effects of different Rht genes on wheat growth and agronomic performance.