Validation of resistance to cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) and yield performance study in doubled haploid lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Cereal cyst nematode (CCN), Heterodera avenae, is an important plant parasitic nematode in major wheat growing states of northern India. Recently, we detected a major QTL, “QCcn.ha-2D” using 114 doubled haploid (DH) lines of wheat obtained from a cross between CIMMYT synthetic hexaploid wheat line W7984 (also known as M6) and the hard red spring wheat Opata M85. In the present study, resistance nature of selected DH lines, harboring this major QTL, was validated for H. avenae resistance under controlled and natural conditions. Different developmental stages of nematode were also studied through staining of infected resistant and susceptible plant roots. In contrast to susceptible DH line roots, staining of resistant DH line roots showed decrease in total number of juveniles, J3s with absence of J4 stage juveniles. In comparison to known resistant parent, most of the resistant DH lines showed better biological yield per plot, grain yield per plot and harvest index, measured over two years. Present study indicates that selected DH lines are promising prebreeding material to introduce novel genetic variation for H. avenae resistance in cultivated wheat.