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.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

GA-Responsive Dwarfing Gene Rht12 Affects the Developmental and Agronomic Traits in Common Bread Wheat

Opportunities exist for replacing reduced height (Rht) genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b with alternative dwarfing genes, such as the gibberellin-responsive gene Rht12, for bread wheat improvement. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects and mode of action of Rht12 is lacking. In the present study, the effects of Rht12 were characterized by analyzing its effects on seeding vigour, seedling roots, leaf and stem morphology, spike development and carbohydrate assimilation and distribution. This was carried out in the four genotypes of F_2:3 lines derived from a cross between Ningchun45 and Karcagi (12) in two experiments of autumn sowing and spring sowing. Rht12 significantly decreased stem length (43%∼48% for peduncle) and leaf length (25%∼30% for flag leaf) while the thickness of the internode walls and width of the leaves were increased. Though the final plant stature was shortened (40%) by Rht12, the seedling vigour, especially coleoptile length and root traits at the seedling stage, were not affected adversely. Rht12 elongated the duration of the spike development phase, improved the proportion of spike dry weight at anthesis and significantly increased floret fertility (14%) in the autumn sowing experiment. However, Rht12 delayed anthesis date by around 5 days and even the dominant Vrn-B1 allele could not compensate this negative effect. Additionally, grain size was reduced with the ability to support spike development after anthesis decreased in Rht12 lines. Finally, grain yield was similar between the dwarf and tall lines in the autumn sowing experiment. Thus, Rht12 could substantially reduce plant height without altering seeding vigour and significantly increase spikelet fertility in the favourable autumn sowing environment. The successful utilization of Rht12 in breeding programs will require careful selection since it might delay ear emergence. Nonetheless, the potential exists for wheat improvement by using Rht12.     

Characterization of a Putative New Semi-Dominant Reduced Height Gene,Rht_NM9, in Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

Plant height is an important agronomic trait in cereal crops, and can affect both plant architecture and grain yield. New dwarfing genes are required for improving the genetic diversity of wheat. In this study, a novel dwarf mutant, NM9, was created by treating seeds of the wheat variety NAU9918 with ethyl methanesulfonate(EMS). NM9 showed obvious phenotypic changes, which were distinct from those caused by other dwarfing genes, especially the reduced plant height, increased effective tiller number, and elongated spike and grain length. The reduced plant height in NM9 was attributable to a semi-dominant dwarfing gene Rht_NM9, which was flanked by two closely linked SNP markers, SNP34 and SNP41, covering an 8.86-Mb region on the chromosome arm 2AS. The results of gibberellic acid(GA) sensitivity evaluation, comparative genomics analysis and allelism test indicated that Rht_NM9 was neither allelic to Rht7 and Rht21 nor homoeoallelic to Rht8, so Rht_NM9 was proposed to be a new dwarfing locus on the homoeologous group 2 chromosomes of wheat. Rht_NM9has a negative effect on plant height and positive effects on effective tiller number and grain size, thus, Rht_NM9 could be used for elucidating the mechanisms underlying plant architecture and grain development.     

Identification and molecular characterization of the nicotianamine synthase gene family in bread wheat

Nicotianamine (NA) is a non‐protein amino acid involved in fundamental aspects of metal uptake, transport and homeostasis in all plants and constitutes the biosynthetic precursor of mugineic acid family phytosiderophores (MAs) in graminaceous plant species. Nicotianamine synthase (NAS) genes, which encode enzymes that synthesize NA from S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine (SAM), are differentially regulated by iron (Fe) status in most plant species and plant genomes have been found to contain anywhere from 1 to 9 NAS genes. This study describes the identification of 21 NAS genes in the hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genome and their phylogenetic classification into two distinct clades. The TaNAS genes are highly expressed during germination, seedling growth and reproductive development. Fourteen of the clade I NAS genes were up‐regulated in root tissues under conditions of Fe deficiency. Protein sequence analyses revealed the presence of endocytosis motifs in all of the wheat NAS proteins as well as chloroplast, mitochondrial and secretory transit peptide signals in four proteins. These results greatly expand our knowledge of NAS gene families in graminaceous plant species as well as the genetics underlying Fe nutrition in bread wheat.     

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.     

A new reduced height gene found in the tetraploid semi-dwarf wheat landrace Aiganfanmai

Aiganfanmai is a dwarf tetraploid wheat landrace (Triticum turgidum var. turgidum) that stably produces the semi-dwarf trait. Plant height varies from 80-105 cm under cultivation. Compared with tall durum wheat (T. turgidum var. durum) variety Langdon, we found it to have short spikes and seeds, besides a semi-dwarf character. We crossed Aiganfanmai with Langdon to analyze the genetic basis of the semi-dwarf trait. The F(2) population segregated at a 1:3 ratio for the short trait to the normal, which demonstrates that Aiganfanmai carries a recessive reduced height (Rht) gene. This gene was found to be located between the molecular markers Xgwm471 and Xgwm350 on chromosome arm 7AS by microsatellite analysis. No Rht gene had been reported from this chromosome; we designated it as Rht22. Rht 22, unlike other previously reported Rht genes, does not reduce internodal cell length. Reduced cell numbers might explain the short stem trait.     

Use of a large multiparent wheat mapping population in genomic dissection of coleoptile and seedling growth

Identification of alleles towards the selection for improved seedling vigour is a key objective of many wheat breeding programmes. A multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population developed from four commercial spring wheat cultivars (cvv. Baxter, Chara, Westonia and Yitpi) and containing ca. 1000 F₂‐derived, F_6:7 RILs was assessed at two contrasting soil temperatures (12 and 20 °C) for shoot length and coleoptile characteristics length and thickness. Narrow‐sense heritabilities were high for coleoptile and shoot length (h² = 0.68–0.70), indicating a strong genetic basis for the differences among progeny. Genotypic variation was large, and distributions of genotype means were approximately Gaussian with evidence for transgressive segregation for all traits. A number of significant QTL were identified for all early growth traits, and these were commonly repeatable across the different soil temperatures. The largest negative effects on coleoptile lengths were associated with Rht‐B1b (?8.2%) and Rht‐D1b (?10.9%) dwarfing genes varying in the population. Reduction in coleoptile length with either gene was particularly large at the warmer soil temperature. Other large QTL for coleoptile length were identified on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 4A, 5A and 6B, but these were relatively smaller than allelic effects at the Rht‐B1 and Rht‐D1 loci. A large coleoptile length effect allele (a = 5.3 mm at 12 °C) was identified on chromosome 1AS despite the relatively shorter coleoptile length of the donor Yitpi. Strong, positive genetic correlations for coleoptile and shoot lengths (r_g = 0.85–0.90) support the co‐location of QTL for these traits and suggest a common physiological basis for both. The multiparent population has enabled the identification of promising shoot and coleoptile QTL despite the potential for the confounding of large effect dwarfing gene alleles present in the commercial parents. The incidence of these alleles in commercial wheat breeding programmes should facilitate their ready implementation in selection of varieties with improved establishment and early growth.     

Genetic analysis of anther culture response in wheat carrying alien translocations

A bread wheat cultivar, Saratovskaya 29, (S29), its nearly isogenic lines carrying alien translocations [Lr9 from Aegilops umbellulata (Eg29) and (Lr19) from Agropyron elongatum (Ps29)] and two F₁ hybrids between three nearly isogenic lines of S29 that differed by the Lr19+Rht1,Pro1+Pro2 and Ppd1+Ppd2 gene complexes, namely the S29 (Lr19+Rht1)/S29 (Ppd1+Ppd2) F₁ and the S29 (Pro1+Pro2)/S29 (Lr19+Rht1) F₁ were studied for their culture response with the following results. (1) Translocations with Lr9 and Lr19 decreased embryo frequency and green plant regeneration. (2) Both F₁ hybrids showed a decrease in embryo frequency. One of the F₁ hybrids, S29 (Lr19+Rht1)/S29 (Ppd1+Ppd2) showed a decrease, with respect to S29 for green plant regeneration; the other F₁ S29 (Pro1+Pro2)/S29 (Lr19+Rht1), equalled S29 for green plant regeneration. (3) The gene complex of the F₁ hybrid S29 (Pro1+Pro2)/S29 (Lr19+Rht1) was better than that of the F₁ hybrid S29 (Lr19+Rht1)/S29 (Ppd1+Ppd2) for embryo induction and green plant regeneration. This effect was possibly induced by interactions between the Pro1+Pro2 and Lr19+Rht1 genes or was the result of direct actions of the Pro1+Pro2 genes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rht24</Emphasis> reduces height in the winter wheat population ‘Solitär × Bussard’ without adverse effects on Fusarium head blight infection

Key message

The dwarfing gene Rht24 on chromosome 6A acts in the wheat population ‘Solitär × Bussard’, considerably reducing plant height without increasing Fusarium head blight severity and delaying heading stage.

Abstract

The introduction of the Reduced height (Rht)-B1 and Rht-D1 semi-dwarfing genes led to remarkable increases in wheat yields during the Green Revolution. However, their utilization also brings about some unwanted characteristics, including the increased susceptibility to Fusarium head blight. Thus, Rht loci that hold the potential to reduce plant height in wheat without concomitantly increasing Fusarium head blight (FHB) susceptibility are urgently required. The biparental population ‘Solitär × Bussard’ fixed for the Rht-1 wild-type alleles, but segregating for the recently described gibberellic acid (GA)-sensitive Rht24 gene, was analyzed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FHB severity, plant height, and heading date and to evaluate the effect of the Rht24 locus on these traits. The most prominent QTL was Rht24 on chromosome 6A explaining 51% of genotypic variation for plant height and exerting an additive effect of ? 4.80 cm. For FHB severity three QTL were detected, whereas five and six QTL were found for plant height and heading date, respectively. No FHB resistance QTL was co-localized with QTL for plant height. Unlike the Rht-1 semi-dwarfing alleles, Rht24b did not significantly affect FHB severity. This demonstrates that the choice of semi-dwarfing genes used in plant breeding programs is of utmost consideration where resistance to FHB is an important breeding target.

     

Arabidopsis G‐protein interactome reveals connections to cell wall carbohydrates and morphogenesis

The heterotrimeric G‐protein complex is minimally composed of Gα, Gβ, and Gγ subunits. In the classic scenario, the G‐protein complex is the nexus in signaling from the plasma membrane, where the heterotrimeric G‐protein associates with heptahelical G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs), to cytoplasmic target proteins called effectors. Although a number of effectors are known in metazoans and fungi, none of these are predicted to exist in their canonical forms in plants. To identify ab initio plant G‐protein effectors and scaffold proteins, we screened a set of proteins from the G‐protein complex using two‐hybrid complementation in yeast. After deep and exhaustive interrogation, we detected 544 interactions between 434 proteins, of which 68 highly interconnected proteins form the core G‐protein interactome. Within this core, over half of the interactions comprising two‐thirds of the nodes were retested and validated as genuine in planta. Co‐expression analysis in combination with phenotyping of loss‐of‐function mutations in a set of core interactome genes revealed a novel role for G‐proteins in regulating cell wall modification.     

The improved assembly of 7DL chromosome provides insight into the structure and evolution of bread wheat

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops worldwide and also an excellent model species for crop evolution and polyploidization studies. The breakthrough of sequencing the bread wheat genome and progenitor genomes lays the foundation to decipher the complexity of wheat origin and evolutionary process as well as the genetic consequences of polyploidization. In this study, we sequenced 3286 BACs from chromosome 7DL of bread wheat cv. Chinese Spring and integrated the unmapped contigs from IWGSC v1 and available PacBio sequences to close gaps present in the 7DL assembly. In total, 8043 out of 12 825 gaps, representing 3 491 264 bp, were closed. We then used the improved assembly of 7DL to perform comparative genomic analysis of bread wheat (Ta7DL) and its D donor, Aegilops tauschii (At7DL), to identify domestication signatures. Results showed a strong syntenic relationship between Ta7DL and At7DL, although some small rearrangements were detected at the distal regions. A total of 53 genes appear to be lost genes during wheat polyploidization, with 23% (12 genes) as RGA (disease resistance gene analogue). Furthermore, 86 positively selected genes (PSGs) were identified, considered to be domestication‐related candidates. Finally, overlapping of QTLs obtained from GWAS analysis and PSGs indicated that TraesCS7D02G321000 may be one of the domestication genes involved in grain morphology. This study provides comparative information on the sequence, structure and organization between bread wheat and Ae. tauschii from the perspective of the 7DL chromosome, which contribute to better understanding of the evolution of wheat, and supports wheat crop improvement.     

Structural and functional characterization of a novel acidophilic 7α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

7α‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α‐HSDH) is an NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidoreductase belonging to the short‐chain dehydrogenases/reductases. In vitro, 7α‐HSDH is involved in the efficient biotransformation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) to tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). In this study, a gene encoding novel 7α‐HSDH (named as St‐2‐1) from fecal samples of black bear was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein has subunits of 28.3 kDa and a native size of 56.6 kDa, which suggested a homodimer. We studied the relevant properties of the enzyme, including the optimum pH, optimum temperature, thermal stability, activators, and inhibitors. Interestingly, the data showed that St‐2‐1 differs from the 7α‐HSDHs reported in the literature, as it functions under acidic conditions. The enzyme displayed its optimal activity at pH 5.5 (TCDCA). The acidophilic nature of 7α‐HSDH expands its application environment and the natural enzyme bank of HSDHs, providing a promising candidate enzyme for the biosynthesis of TUDCA or other related chemical entities.