Embryo lethality in wheat-rye hybrids: dosage effect and deletion bin mapping of the responsible wheat locus

The speciation allele at Eml-A1 of hexaploid wheat, which causes embryo lethality in wheat-rye hybrids, was investigated using cytologically modified genetic stocks. It was demonstrated that an extra dose of this allele had no effect on embryo development in these hybrids. There was no positive effect on embryo development and, therefore, no overcoming of the postzygotic barrier. An abortion of the hybrid embryos at an earlier stage of development was also not observed. Physical mapping was performed using chromosome 6A deletion lines. This study revealed the location of Eml-A1 on the most distal part of the long arm of chromosome 6A. To identify possible candidate genes responsible for embryo lethality, in silico sequence homology analysis was performed. Two candidate genes for Eml-A1 that are involved in shoot apical meristem maintenance were identified on chromosome 6AL. However, functional validation assays need to be designed and performed.