Characterization, identification and evaluation of a novel wheat- Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. disomic addition line II-30-5

Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (A. cristatum), which is an important wild relative of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), exhibits multiple agronomic traits that are valuable for the genetic improvement of wheat. II-30-5 is derived from the BC3F1 progeny between wheat cv. Fukuhokomugi (Fukuho) and A. cristatum (2n = 4x = 28, PPPP). In this study, II-30-5 was proven to be a novel wheat-A. cristatum disomic 6P addition line by cytogenetics and A. cristatum expressed sequence tag-sequence-tagged site (EST-STS) markers. II-30-5 possessed several elite agronomic traits, such as good plant type, erect leaf position, short flag leaf, high thousand-grain weight, and high resistance to powdery mildew and leaf rust. Chromosomal rearrangements led to multiple addition lines in the same group of homologous group. Evaluation of the agronomic traits of different 6P addition lines showed that different 6P addition lines contain specific traits. In the same homologous group, the production of multiple addition lines increases the types of genetic variation for wheat improvement.