Selection of U and M genome-specific wheat SSR markers using wheat-Aegilops biuncialis and wheat-Ae. geniculata addition lines

We selected wheat SSR markers specific to the U and M genomes of Aegilops species. A total of 108 wheat SSR markers were successfully tested on Ae. biuncialis (2n = 4x = 28, (UUMMb)-U-b-M-b-M-b), on five wheat-Ae. biuncialis addition lines (2M(b), 3M(b), 7M(b), 3U(b) and 5U(b)) and on a wheat-Ae. geniculata (1U(g), 2U(g), 3U(g), 4U(g), 5U(g), 7U(g), 1M(g), 2M(g), 4M(g), 5M(g), 6M(g) and 7M(g)) addition series. Among the markers, 86 (79.6%) were amplified in the Ae. biuncialis genome. Compared with wheat, polymorphic bands of various lengths were detected on Ae. biuncialis for 35 (32.4%) of the wheat microsatellite markers. Three of these (8.6%) exhibited specific PCR products on wheat-Ae. biuncialis or wheat-Ae. geniculata addition lines. The primers GWM44 and GDM61 gave specific PCR products on the 2M(b) and 3M(b) wheat-Ae. biuncialis addition lines, but not on the 2M(g) addition line of Ae. geniculata. A specific band was observed on the 7U(g) wheat-Ae. geniculata addition line using the BARC184 primer. These three markers specific to the U and M genomes are helpful for the identification of 2M(b), 3M(b) and 7U(g) chromosome introgressions into wheat.