Identification of Candidate Genes for English Grain Aphid Resistance from QTLs Using a RIL Population in Wheat
Mingxia Zhang,
Zhenzhen Chen,
Haimeng Wu,
Fanmei Kong,
Baojin Guo,
Yijun Wang,
Qi Zhao,
Huiyan Xu,
Hui Wang,
Ping Huang,
Ying Guo,
Yanrong An,
Sishen Li,
Yongyu Xu
Affiliations
Mingxia Zhang
College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Zhenzhen Chen
College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Haimeng Wu
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Fanmei Kong
National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Baojin Guo
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Yijun Wang
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Qi Zhao
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Huiyan Xu
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Hui Wang
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Ping Huang
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Ying Guo
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Yanrong An
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Sishen Li
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Yongyu Xu
College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
The English grain aphid (EGA) (Sitobion avenae F.) is one of the most destructive species of aphids in wheat- (Triticum aestivum L.) planting areas worldwide. Large quantities of insecticides are usually used to control aphid damage. The identification of new EGA-resistant genes is necessary for sustainable wheat production. The objective of this study was to identify candidate genes for EGA resistance from stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs). We previously constructed a genetic map of unigenes (UG-Map) with 31,445 polymorphic sub-unigenes via the RNA sequencing of ‘TN18 × LM6’ recombinant inbred lines (TL-RILs). The relative aphid index (RAI) for the TL-RILs was investigated for two growing seasons, with three measured times (MTs) in each season. Using the UG-Map, 43 candidate genes were identified from 22 stable QTLs, with an average of 1.95 candidate genes per QTL. Among the 34 candidate genes annotated in the reference genome Chinese Spring (CS) RefSeq v1.1, the homologous genes of seven candidate genes, TraesCS1A02G-319900, TraesCS1B02G397300, TraesCS2D02G460800, TraesCS4A02G015600LC, TraesCS5B02G329200, TraesCS-6A02G000600 and TraesCS6A02G418600LC have been previously reported to play roles in aphid resistance. This suggests that these genes are strongly associated with EGA resistance in wheat. The candidate genes in this study should facilitate the cloning of EGA-resistant genes and genetic improvement in wheat breeding programs.
