Characterisation of major gene (Stb)-mediated resistance to Septoria tritici blotch disease in wheat

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Tidd, Henry James (2024) Characterisation of major gene (Stb)-mediated resistance to Septoria tritici blotch disease in wheat. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

It is vital that Stb resistance genes are optimally used to protect elite wheat lines from Z. tritici, a highly adaptive fungal pathogen of wheat which has demonstrated rapid gain of virulence against many previously used Stb resistance genes.

In a screen testing 19 known Stb resistance genes against arrays of up to 90 recent UK Z. tritici field isolates, the resistance genes Stb5, Stb10, Stb11 and Stb19 were identified as providing exceptionally broad resistance. Together these genes would offer protection from all tested Z. tritici isolates. The origins of these genes suggest that synthetic wheats may be rich sources of novel broadly effective Stb resistance genes in the future.

We have also developed KASP markers capable of tracking the resistance genes Stb5 and Stb18, as well as confirming such markers for Stb10. Smaller numbers of potential markers of varying quality have also been tested for other Stb genes (such as Stb13 and Stb14), with varying levels of success. It is hoped that these data and tools will contribute to the breeding of elite wheat varieties containing multiple broad spectrum pathogen resistance genes for improved durability.

Finally, fluorescent Z. tritici strains were produced using agrobacterium-mediated transformation of isolates which possess virulence profiles of interest for future testing, using GFP and mCherry markers. Preliminary testing of these fluorescent Z. tritici lines against the Stb5 resistance gene were unfortunately inconclusive, but adjustments to the procedure used have been suggested. It is hoped that using these suggestions, it will be possible to investigate whether stomatal closure is a relevant resistance mechanism in this pathosystem in the future.

It is envisaged that these outcomes from existing and future work in this project will enable the development of wheat lines protected by pyramids of Stb resistance genes, robustly protecting future wheat from Z. tritici infection.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: Kanyuka, Kostya
Rudd, Jason J.
Ray, Rumiana V.
Bryant, Ruth
Keywords: Zymoseptoria tritici, Septoria tritici blotch, qualitative resistance, major resistance genes, crop disease resistance
Subjects: S Agriculture > SB Plant culture
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences
Item ID: 74400
Depositing User: Tidd, Henry
Date Deposited: 31 Jul 2024 04:40
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2024 04:40
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/74400

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