Regions of the genome that affect agronomic performance in two-row barley

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) main effects and QTL by environment (QTL × E) interactions for seven agronomic traits (grain yield, days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, lodging severity, kernel weight, and test weight) were investigated in a two-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cross, Harrington/TR306. A 127-point base map was constructed from markers (mostly RFLP) scored in 146 random double-haploid (DH) lines from the Harrington/TR306 cross. Field experiments involving the two parents and 145 random DH lines were grown in 1992 and/or 1993 at 17 locations in North America. Analysis of QTL was based on simple and composite interval mapping. Primary QTL were declared at positions where both methods gave evidence for QTL. The number of primary QTL ranged from three to six per trait, collectively explaining 34 to 52% of the genetic variance. None of these primary QTL showed major effects, but many showed effects that were consistent across environments. The addition of secondary QTL gave models that explained 39 to 80% of the genetic variance. The QTL were dispersed throughout the barley genome and some were detected in regions where QTL have been found in previous studies. Eight chromosome regions contained pleiotropic loci and/or linked clusters of loci that affected multiple traits. One region on chromosome 7 affected all traits except days to heading. This study was an intensive effort to evaluate QTL in a narrow-base population grown in a large set of environments. The results reveal the types and distributions of QTL effects manipulated by plant breeders and provide opportunities for future testing of marker-assisted selection

Molecular mapping of the leaf rust resistance gene Rph5 in barley

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia hordei G. Otth is an important disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in many regions of the world. Yield losses up to 32% have been reported in susceptible cultivars. The Rph5 gene confers resistance to the most prevalent races (8 and 30) of barley leaf rust in the USA. Therefore, the molecular mapping of Rph5 is of great interest. The objectives of this study were to map Rph5 and identify closely linked molecular markers. Genetic studies were performed by analysis of 93 and 91 [F.sub.2] plants derived from the crosses `Bowman' (rph5) x `Magnif 102' (Rph5) and `Moore' (rph5) x Virginia 92-42-46 (Rph5), respectively. Bulk segregent analysis (BSA) using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was conducted. Linkage analysis positioned the Rph5 locus to the extreme telomeric region of the short arm of barley chromosome 3H at 0.2 centimorgans (cM) proximal to RFLP marker VT1 and 0.5 cM distal from RFLP marker C970 in the Bowman x Magnif 102 population. Map positions and the relative order of the markers were confirmed in the Moore x Virginia 92-42-46 population. RFLP analysis of the near isogenic line (NIL) Magnif 102/*8Bowman, the susceptible recurrent parent Bowman, and RpH5 donor Magnif 102, confirmed the close linkage of the markers VT1, BCD907, and CD0549 to Rph5. Results from this study will be useful for marker-assisted selection and gene pyramiding in programs breeding for leaf rust resistance and provide the basis for physical mapping and further cloning activities