Evaluation of Pakistani Elite Wheat Germplasm for T۱BL.۱RS Chromosome Translocation

Rye (Secale cereale) chromosome ۱RS harbors multiple genes including Lr۲۶, Sr۳۱, Yr۹ and Pm۸ conferring disease resistance and tolerance to abiotic stresses. The introgression of the rye ۱R chromosome short arm has enormously contributed to increase of genetic diversity in wheat. Utilization of such translocations in breeding programs demands identification of wheat germplasm possessing the wheat-alien chromosome translocation. This study was designed to screen a set of ۱۰۲ Pakistani wheat cultivars and candidate lines to identify the rye T۱BL.۱RS translocation, using cytological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. Results revealed that ۱۲ out of the ۴۰ wheat cultivars were found to have this alien introgression. In the National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (NUWYT) group, ۱۰ of ۲۳ entries of the rainfed category were identified as carrying ۱BL.۱RS translocation, while ۴ out of ۳۹ genotypes were present in the irrigated category of both NUWYT crop seasons. The valuable information generated can be useful in the crop improvement programs for the production of germplasm possessing T۱BL.۱RS translocation, in order to enhance the genetic variability in local wheat cultivars and, also, avoid the preponderance of T۱BL.۱RS candidates.

Keywords:

genetic diversity , Constitutive heterochromatin banding , Marker analysis , Mitotic counts , Rye introgression , Wheat collections