Mapping of QTL for resistance against Fusarium head blight in the winter wheat population Pelikan//Bussard/Ning8026

We report on the identification of FHB (Fusarium head blight) resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) of the donor 'G93010' (Bussard/Ning8026) in the background of elite breeding material adapted to the central European climate. With a multiple interval mapping method, two major resistance QTL were identified. Qfhs.lfl-7BS/5BL and Qfhs.lfl-6BS reduced FHB severity individually by 30% and 24%. The combination of both QTL decreased disease severity most effectively by about one half. Qfhs.lfl-6BS is most likely identical to Fhb2, thus, the effectiveness of Fhb2 in central European breeding material has been validated. Qfhs.lfl-7BS/5BL overlapped with QTL for plant height and heading date. Nevertheless, the selection of lines combining a good FHB resistance level with an acceptable plant height was possible. As the donors of the QTL have probably not yet been utilized in European breeding material, we identified well-adapted lines of the mapping population as valuable donors for marker-assisted breeding programmes.