Revista de genética y mejoramiento vegetal

Abstracto

Screening Winter Wheat Lines in Nebraska for the Fhb1 Gene Using Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP)

Ahmed Sallam

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the biotic stresses that causes a significant reduction in wheat grain yield and its quality. The main objective of this study was to screen a set of 53 high yielding Nebraska wheat lines (DUP15 - F6:7) for resistance to FHB using visual scoring and confirm the results using a Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker for the Fhb1 gene. The experiment was conducted at Lincoln Field Station of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A high genetic variation was found between genotypes for their resistance to FHB. The phenotypic correlation S_FHB and grain yield was -0.61**. The results of the KASP assay revealed that only three genotypes NE15648, NE15674 and NE15569 had the predicted Fhb1 gene. KASP genotyping was a very effective technology which helped in screening valuable QTLs and associated trait markers. The three lines having the Fhb1 gene can be used in the wheat breeding program at University of the Nebraska-Lincoln to improve resistance to FHB.