MlAG12: a Triticum timopheevii-derived powdery mildew resistance gene in common wheat on chromosome 7AL

Wheat powdery mildew is an economically important disease in cool and humid environments. Powdery mildew causes yield losses as high as 48% through a reduction in tiller survival, kernels per head, and kernel size. Race-specific host resistance is the most consistent, environmentally friendly and, economical method of control. The wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm line NC06BGTAG12 possesses genetic resistance to powdery mildew introgressed from the AAGG tetraploid genome Triticum timopheevii subsp. armeniacum. Phenotypic evaluation of F-3 families derived from the cross NC06BGTAG12/'Jagger' and phenotypic evaluation of an F-2 population from the cross NC06BGTAG12/'Saluda' indicated that resistance to the 'Yuma' isolate of powdery mildew was controlled by a single dominant gene in NC06BGTAG12. Bulk segregant analysis (BSA) revealed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers specific for chromosome 7AL segregating with the resistance gene. The SSR markers Xwmc273 and Xwmc346 mapped 8.3 cM distal and 6.6 cM proximal, respectively, in NC06BGTAG12/Jagger. The multiallelic Pm1 locus maps to this region of chromosome 7AL. No susceptible phenotypes were observed in an evaluation of 967 F-2 individuals in the cross NC06BGTAG12/'Axminster' (Pm1a) which indicated that the NC06BGTAG12 resistance gene was allelic or in close linkage with the Pm1 locus. A detached leaf test with ten differential powdery mildew isolates indicated the resistance in NC06BGTAG12 was different from all designated alleles at the Pm1 locus. Further linkage and allelism tests with five other temporarily designated genes in this very complex region will be required before giving a permanent designation to this gene. At this time the gene is given the temporary gene designation MlAG12.