Consequences of 1BL/1RS translocation on agronomic and physiological traits in wheat

The 1BL/1RS wheat-rye translocations had been used in wheat breeding programs worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the 1BL/1RS translocation in SeriM82 /Babax recombinant population. 167 lines of this population were assayed under well-irrigated, terminal drought, heat and a combination of heat and drought stress conditions in two years. 5S rDNA and Iag95 markers were used to differentiate genotypes with or without the1BL/1RS translocation. Presence of 1BL/1RS translocation reduced grain yield (YLD), grain per spike (GSP) and grain per m2 (GM2). QTLs in 1 BL/1RS segments indicated increased thousand-grain weight (TGW), chlorophyll content, spikelet per spike (SPLS), spike compactness (SCOM) and awn length (AWL) but reduced YLD, GSP and GM2. The 1BL/1RS carrying lines’ response varied between assayed environments. Plants of drought trials were more affected by 1BL/1RS compared to others. Differences in the effects of 1BL/1RS and QTLs suggest that gene expression at translocation loci is restricted to specific environmental conditions. In general, the 1BL/1RS translocation could not be a suitable source of genetic diversity for enhancing grain yield under heat and drought stresses

Identification of wheat stripe rust resistance genes in Iranian wheat cultivars using molecular markers

Yellow or stripe rust is one of the most important and destructive wheat diseases all over the world. The best strategy to control this disease is genetic resistance through combining several resistance genes which results in achieving long lasting resistance. Marker assisted selection has provided a suitable means towards this strategy. The aim of this study was to identify the race specific seedling genes Yr5 and Yr10 and the race non-specific APR gene Yr29 in a selection of 40 Iranian genotypes using STS and SSR markers. Therefore, genomic DNA was extracted from these genotypes, the susceptible cultivar Avocet ‘S’ as negative control, and the genotypes with corresponding resistance gene (positive controls). PCR was performed using YrSTS7/8, Xpsp3000 and Xwmc44 markers for Yr5, Yr10 and Yr29, respectively. The results indicated the presence of Yr5 in only 6 genotypes. The presence of a 260 bps band also showed that Yr10 was present in 12 genotypes while Yr29 was present in 13 cultivars. As all these three genes are effective against yellow rust pathogen in Iran, it will be an advantage to transfer them to promising lines and develop durable resistance.Zahra Pourkhorshid, Ali Dadkhodaie, Ali Niazi, Bahram Heidari, and Esmaeil Ebrahim

Co-application of ACC deaminase-producing rhizobial bacteria and melatonin improves salt tolerance in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) through ion homeostasis

Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).A comprehensive body of scientific evidence indicates that rhizobial bacteria and melatonin enhance salt tolerance of crop plants. The overall goal of this research was to evaluate the ability of Rhizobium leguminoserum bv phaseoli to suppress salinity stress impacts in common bean treated with melatonin. Treatments included bacterial inoculations (inoculated (RI) and non-inoculated (NI)), different salinity levels (non-saline (NS), 4 (S1) and 8 (S2) dS m−1 of NaCl) and priming (dry (PD), melatonin (PM100) and hydro (PH) priming) with six replications in growing media containing sterile sand and perlite (1:1). The results showed that the bacterial strain had the ability to produce indole acetic acid (IAA), ACC deaminase and siderophore. Plants exposed to salinity stress indicated a significant decline in growth, yield, yield components, nitrogen fixation and selective transport (ST), while showed a significant increase in sodium uptake. However, the combination of PM100 and RI treatments by improving growth, photosynthesis rate and nitrogen fixation positively influenced plant performance in saline conditions. The combined treatment declined the negative impacts of salinity by improving the potassium translocation, potassium to sodium ratio in the shoot and root and ST. In conclusion, the combination of melatonin and ACC deaminase producing rhizobium mitigated the negative effects of salinity. This result is attributed to the increased ST and decreased sodium uptake, which significantly reduced the accumulation of sodium ions in shoot.Peer reviewe

Comparative transcriptome analysis of two contrasting resistant and susceptible Aegilops tauschii accessions to wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) using RNA-sequencing

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks., is the most common rust disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Owing to the rapid evolution of virulent pathotypes, new and effective leaf rust resistance sources must be found. Aegilops tauschii, an excellent source of resistance genes to a wide range of diseases and pests, may provide novel routes for resistance to this disease. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the transcriptome of leaf rust resistance in two contrasting resistant and susceptible Ae. tauschii accessions using RNA-sequencing. Gene ontology, analysis of pathway enrichment and transcription factors provided an apprehensible review of differentially expressed genes and highlighted biological mechanisms behind the Aegilops–P. triticina interaction. The results showed the resistant accession could uniquely recognize pathogen invasion and respond precisely via reducing galactosyltransferase and overexpressing chromatin remodeling, signaling pathways, cellular homeostasis regulation, alkaloid biosynthesis pathway and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism. However, the suppression of photosynthetic pathway and external stimulus responses were observed upon rust infection in the susceptible genotype. In particular, this first report of comparative transcriptome analysis offers an insight into the strength and weakness of Aegilops against leaf rust and exhibits a pipeline for future wheat breeding programs