Pyramiding of scald resistance genes in four spring barley MAGIC populations

• Published in: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
• Main Authors: Hautsalo, Juho, Novakazi, Fluturë, Jalli, Marja, Göransson, Magnus, Manninen, Outi, Isolahti, Mika, Reitan, Lars, Bergersen, Stein, Krusell, Lene, Damsgård Robertsen, Charlotte, Orabi, Jihad, Due Jensen, Jens, Jahoor, Ahmed, Bengtsson, Therése, Veteläinen, Merja, Alsheikh, Muath, Jansen, Constantin, Windju, Susanne, Vangdorf, Nana, Jensen, Jens Due, Hjortshøj, Rasmus Lund, Robertsen, Charlotte Damsgård, Åhman, Inger, Hilmarsson, Hrannar Smári, Sveinsson, Sæmundur
• Other Authors: Nordisk Ministerråd, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2021
• Subjects: Genetics; Agronomy and Crop Science; General Medicine; Biotechnology; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00122-021-03930-y; https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00122-021-03930-y.pdf; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-021-03930-y/fulltext.html

Abstract Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of four Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) populations identified nine regions on chromosomes 1H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H and 7H associated with resistance against barley scald disease. Three of these regions are putatively novel resistance Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). Barley scald is caused by Rhynchosporium commune , one of the most important barley leaf diseases that are prevalent in most barley-growing regions. Up to 40% yield losses can occur in susceptible barley cultivars. Four MAGIC populations were generated in a Nordic Public–Private Pre-breeding of spring barley project (PPP Barley) to introduce resistance to several important diseases. Here, these MAGIC populations consisting of six to eight founders each were tested for scald resistance in field trials in Finland and Iceland. Eight different model covariate combinations were compared for GWAS studies, and the models that deviated the least from the expected p-values were selected. For all QTL, candidate genes were identified that are predicted to be involved in pathogen defence. The MAGIC progenies contained new haplotypes of significant SNP-markers with high resistance levels. The lines with successfully pyramided resistance against scald and mildew and the significant markers are now distributed among Nordic plant breeders and will benefit development of disease-resistant cultivars.