Elucidating the genetics and biology of disease and insect resistance in wheat

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This NSERC Discovery Grant program will develop new genetic knowledge and tools to develop disease and insect resistant wheat. Numerous diseases and insects lower wheat productivity and grain quality in Canada. Wheat genetic and genomic resources have developed quickly over the past 5 years and will be utilized in this research. The program will identify wheat genes encoding resistance to biotic stresses affecting Canadian wheat, including rust diseases, Fusarium head blight, common bunt, and the insect wheat midge. This will be accomplished with a multi-pronged strategy. Inheritance studies will locate individual resistance genes on chromosomes, while DNA and RNA sequencing will identify genes potentially controlling the resistance traits. Mutagenesis studies will determine which gene encodes each resistance trait. Once identified, DNA markers will be developed to enable wheat breeders to identify wheats with specific resistance genes. Multiple biotic stress resistance genes will be targeted. The first is SrCad, which provides resistance to stem rust. Preliminary data suggests the SrCad also provides resistance to common bunt, a seed-borne disease. The second targeted gene is the leaf rust resistance gene Lr16. The third target is a gene for wheat midge resistance that results in the insect laying fewer eggs on wheat heads. This gene alters the smell of wheat heads causing wheat midge to not recognize their host. This research will provide DNA markers tools to develop wheat carrying these genes. Finally, past genetic research has found an association between height reducing genes (Rht-B1, Rht-D1) and increased susceptibility to Fusarium head blight. A similar association has been detected for a gene promoting earlier maturity (Ppd-D1). Mutagenesis research will determine if these genes are directly responsible for increased susceptibility to Fusarium head blight. In additional to practical tools, this research will increase our understanding of biotic stress resistance, and the biology of wheat and related plant species. Research findings from the program will be used by wheat scientists in Canada and around the world, and by Canadian farmers who grow wheat varieties with these biotic stress resistance genes. Such varieties will suffer less losses due to diseases and insects benefiting farmers, the agricultural sector, and the overall Canadian economy. Varieties with biotic stress resistance reduce fungicide and insecticide use, which is beneficial to the environment and preserves the efficacy of pesticides into the future. The research will be conducted by 2 MSc and 2 PhD students under the supervision of Dr. Curt McCartney (wheat breeder and geneticist) and in conjunction with the University of Manitoba wheat breeding team, consisting of 5 technicians and 10 undergraduate students. These MSc and PhD students will enter employment within the agricultural and biological sciences sectors.