Control of wheat streak mosaic virus in wheat via a gene from perennial intermediate wheat-grass

摘要

Thinopyrum intermedium (= Agropyron intermedium = Elytrigia intermedium), a perennial relative of cultivated wheat (Triticum aeslivum) carries genes conditioning resistance to a number of wheat pests and pathogens, including barley yellow dwarf virus,Cephalosporium stripe and wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). WSMV is one of the most important diseases affecting winter wheat in the western Great Plains of North America, and it also has been reported from most wheat growing regions of the world. Untilrecently no highly effective WSMV resistance has been available in the primary gene pool of wheat. A resistance gene known as Wsml, has, however, been transferred to wheat from T. intermedium. Adapted wheat lines carrying Wsml were used to measure its effectiveness and determine the presence of any negative epistatic effects. Sister-lines from six genetic populations were analyzed to compare agronomic and quality characteristics of resistant and susceptible lines in the absence of the virus, and undera naturally occurring viral infection. Over all populations, there was no significant difference in yield, but resistant lines had significantly higher grain volume weight in the uninfected locations. Within each population, significant differences in yield were observed only in one population. At the infected location, resistant lines were significantly higher in yield in five of six populations. Selections from the experimental materials, with grain yields competitive to currently grown cultivars, have been identified and advanced to regional and statewide performance trials.