Development of Novel Wheat-Aegilops longissima 3Sl Translocations Conferring Powdery Mildew Resistance and Specific Molecular Markers for Chromosome 3Sl.

Powdery mildew of wheat, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a destructive disease of wheat. Cultivation of resistant varieties is the most cost-effective disease management strategy. Previous studies reported that chromosome 3Sl#2 present in Chinese Spring (CS)-Aegilops longissima 3Sl#2(3B) disomic substitution line TA3575 conferred resistance to powdery mildew. In this study, we further located the powdery mildew resistance gene(s) to the short arm of chromosome 3Sl#2 (3Sl#2S) by evaluating for Bgt-resistance of newly developed CS-Ae. longissima 3Sl#2 translocation lines. Meanwhile, TA7545, a previously designated CS-Ae. longissima 3Sl#3 disomic addition line, was re-identified as an isochromosome 3Sl#3S addition line and evaluated to confer resistance to powdery mildew, thus locating the resistance gene(s) to the short arm of chromosome 3Sl#3 (3Sl#3S). Based on transcriptome sequences of TA3575, ten novel chromosome 3SlS-specific markers were developed, of which, five could be used to distinguish between 3Sl#2S and 3Sl#3S derived from Ae. longissima accessions TL20 and TA1910 (TAM4), and the remaining five could identify both 3Sl#2S and 3Sl#3S. Besides, CL897, one of five markers specific to both 3Sl#2S and 3Sl#3S, could be used to detect Pm13 located at chromosome 3Sl#1S from Ae. longissima accession TL01 in diverse wheat genetic backgrounds. The powdery mildew resistance genes on chromosomes 3Sl#2S and 3Sl#3S, the CS-Ae. longissima 3Sl#2 translocation lines, and the 3SlS-specific markers developed in this study will provide new germplasm resources for powdery mildew resistance breeding and facilitate the transfer of Bgt-resistance genes into common wheat.