Baotong Wang | Search PubMed

PubMed2026

Large-Scale Genomic Analysis of Stripe Rust Resistance in Chinese Wheat Germplasm Using Multi-Environment Trial Data.

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a significant disease affecting global wheat crops and causing substantial economic losses. This study aimed to identify effective resistance genes by evaluating 120 common wheat accessions from diverse regions in China. These samples were tested with three Pst races at the seedling stage and with natural Pst inoculum at four field locations in three crop seasons. Genotypic data were collected through a Wheat55K iSelect single-nucleotide polymorphism array. The genome-wide association study identified 17 distinct loci linked to stripe rust response, accounting for 1.07 to 30.58% of the phenotypic variation across trials. These loci were distributed among three wheat genome groups: 2 in Group A, 10 in Group B, and 5 in Group D. Among these, eight loci overlapped with the reported stripe rust resistance genes or quantitative trait loci, while nine loci were novel and mainly distributed on chromosomes 2A, 6B, and 7D. This research enhances the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying wheat stripe rust resistance and provides valuable germplasm resources for breeding new cultivars with enhanced disease resilience.

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici↗

PubMed2026

Integrated Genomics and Transcriptomics Reveal Stable Resistance Loci and Candidate Genes for Powdery Mildew in Wheat.

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), poses a substantial threat to global wheat production. Enhancing resistance through molecular breeding necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its genetic and molecular underpinnings. This study leveraged a 2-year phenotypic evaluation of 283 diverse wheat accessions combined with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to pinpoint stable quantitative trait loci for powdery mildew resistance. We identified 52 robust resistance loci across the wheat genome, including seven novel loci consistently detected across four environments. Comparative transcriptome profiling of resistant and susceptible wheat lines revealed 95 differentially expressed genes, predominantly enriched in defense response, signal transduction, and transcription regulation pathways. By integrating the GWAS and transcriptomic data, we precisely identified three compelling candidate genes (TaPIP5K, TaPKG, and TaORR6) on chromosome 2A, which are implicated in cell wall reinforcement, jasmonic acid signaling, and reactive oxygen species scavenging, respectively. Further validation using expression analysis corroborated their pivotal roles in resistance. Our findings provide a rich repository of validated genetic markers, promising candidate genes, and superior resistant germplasms, offering critical resources to accelerate targeted molecular breeding efforts for durable powdery mildew resistance in wheat.

Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici↗