Analysis of Genetic Factors Defining Head Blight Resistance in an Old Hungarian Wheat Variety-Based Mapping Population

Abstract

One of the most important limiting factors of high-quality wheat production is Fusarium head blight infection. The various Fusarium species not only may cause severe yield loss but—due to toxin production—the grains also might become unsuitable for animal and human nutrition. In the present research, our aim was to examine the Fusarium resistance of a special mapping population (’BKT9086-95/Mv Magvas’) and identify the genetic factors and chromosome regions determining the tolerance to Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium graminearum. The connection between the genetic background and the Fusarium head blight sensitivity was confirmed by the analysis of variance in the case of three markers, among which the co-dominant pattern of the gtac2 and gtac3 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers might indicate a marker development possibility. Consistently expressed quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified on the chromosomes 2A, 2B, 2D, 5A, and 7A. Loci linked to resistance were identified on 11 chromosomes. During the investigation of phenological and morphological traits (heading date, plant height, ear compactness) influencing the head blight resistance and the location of the resistance QTLs, the total overlap was found in the case of the region identified on chromosome 2D and partial overlap on chromosomes 2A and 2B. Whereas 5A may be a rare allelic variant of a novel QTL.

Keywords

• biotic stress tolerance
• resistance source
• mycotoxin
• plant breeding
• yield quality