Identification of Microsatellite Markers Associated with a Stem Solidness Locus in Wheat

Abstract

Wheat stem sawfly (WSS), Cephus cinctus N., is a major insect pest of winter and spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L., in areas of the northern Great Plains. The primary control measure is use of resistant cultivars containing solid stems. Environmental effects on expression of the trait can be problematic, thus genetic markers would be useful. In this study, a doubled haploid (DH) winter wheat population derived from a ‘Rampart’ (solid stems) × ‘Jerry’ (hollow stems) cross was analyzed to identify molecular markers linked to genes controlling stem solidness. The DH population was genotyped with GWM and BARC microsatellite primers that spanned the wheat genome. To genotype the population efficiently, bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was used to identify polymorphism between groups of solid stem and hollow stem individuals. Four microsatellite markers (GWM247, GWM340, GWM547, and BARC77) were found linked to a single solid stem QTL (designate Qss.msub‐3BL) on chromosome 3BL. However GWM247, GWM340, and GWM547 were found to be more closely linked to the QTL than BARC77. Single marker analysis showed Qss.msub‐3BL contributes at least 76% of the total variation for stem solidness. Additionally, no significant relationship existed between Qss.msub‐3BL and other agronomic traits, including yield. These microsatellite markers (GWM247, GWM340, and GWM547) will be useful for selecting solid‐stemmed wheat cultivars to help control the wheat stem sawfly.

Impact of the D genome and quantitative trait loci on quantitative traits in a spring durum by spring bread wheat cross

“…Grain trait measurements for the 2013 Sidney MT environment are missing due to a hail storm that destroyed plots shortly before harvest. Stem solidness data were not collected in the Bread/Durum population in 2013 because only the Choteau parent had the major gene for stem solidness (Cook et al 2004) that produced solid-stemmed offspring. Thus, the solid stem phenotype was not well represented in the population.…”

“…In areas of the northern Great Plains, resistance to the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Norton) is a critical characteristic. The primary means of control is pith-filled, or solid stems, that inhibit larval development controlled largely by a QTL on chromosome 3B (Cook et al 2004). Desirable end-use properties of bread and durum wheat both require high grain protein; yet strong gluten is also required for making high-quality bread in hexaploid bread wheat.…”

An Artificial Neural Network Model to Predict Wheat Stem Sawfly Cutting in Solid-Stemmed Wheat Cultivars

“…In hexaploid wheat, the inheritance of the solid stem phenotype is more complex than in durum (Triticum turgidum L.). In S-615, stem solidness has been reported to be controlled by three to four recessive genes (Cook et al 2004;Lanning et al 2006). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping experiments have shown that a single locus on 3BL explains 76% of the total variation for stem solidness (Cook et al 2004).…”

“…In S-615, stem solidness has been reported to be controlled by three to four recessive genes (Cook et al 2004;Lanning et al 2006). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping experiments have shown that a single locus on 3BL explains 76% of the total variation for stem solidness (Cook et al 2004). This QTL is likely allelic to SSt1 given their similar map location (Houshmand et al 2007).…”

“…This QTL is likely allelic to SSt1 given their similar map location (Houshmand et al 2007). Minor effect genes have been reported on chromosome 3DL (Cook et al 2004). However, unlike in durum, the complex genetic inheritance can result in inconsistent pith expression in the field in some genetic backgrounds (Hayat et al 1995).…”