Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in Aegilops tauschii (Coss.) under Different Abiotic Stresses

Aegilops tauschii (Coss.) is an aggressive and serious annual grass weed in China. Its DD genome is a rich source of genetic material and performs better under different abiotic stress conditions (salinity, drought, temperature, etc.). Reverse-transcribed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a reliable technique for reference gene selection and validation. This work aimed to evaluate the stability of reference gene expression in Ae. tauschii under different abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, hot, and cold) and developmental stages (seedling and development). The results show that the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 36-like (UBC36) and protein microrchidia 2-like (HSP) are the most stable genes under control and salinity conditions, respectively. Under drought stress conditions, UBC36 is more stable as compared with others. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) is the most stable reference gene during heat stress conditions and thioredoxin-like protein (YLS) under cold stress condition. Phosphate2A serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (ETIF3) are the most stable genes at seedling and developmental stages. Intracellular transport protein (CAC) is recommended as the most stable gene under different abiotic stresses and at developmental stages. Furthermore, the relative expression levels of NHX1 and DREB under different levels of salinity and drought stress conditions varied with the most (HSP and UBC36) and least (YLS and ACT) stable genes. This study provides reliable reference genes for understanding the tolerance mechanisms in Ae. tauschii under different abiotic stress conditions.     

Identification of New QTLs for Dietary Fiber Content in Aegilops biuncialis

Grain dietary fiber content is an important health-promoting trait of bread wheat. A dominant dietary fiber component of wheat is the cell wall polysaccharide arabinoxylan and the goatgrass Aegilops biuncialis has high β-glucan content, which makes it an attractive gene source to develop wheat lines with modified fiber composition. In order to support introgression breeding, this work examined genetic variability in grain β-glucan, pentosan, and protein content in a collection of Ae. biuncialis. A large variation in grain protein and edible fiber content was revealed, reflecting the origin of Ae. biuncialis accessions from different eco-geographical habitats. Association analysis using DArTseq-derived SNPs identified 34 QTLs associated with β-glucan, pentosan, water-extractable pentosan, and protein content. Mapping the markers to draft chromosome assemblies of diploid progenitors of Ae. biuncialis underlined the role of genes on chromosomes 1M^b, 4M^b, and 5M^b in the formation of grain β-glucan content, while other QTLs on chromosome groups 3, 6, and 1 identified genes responsible for total- and water-extractable pentosan content. Functional annotation of the associated marker sequences identified fourteen genes, nine of which were identified in other monocots. The QTLs and genes identified in the present work are attractive targets for chromosome-mediated gene transfer to improve the health-promoting properties of wheat-derived foods.     

Development and Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of Two Wheat-Aegilops geniculata Roth 7Mg Chromosome Substitution Lines with Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight,Powdery Mildew and Stripe Rust

Fusarium head blight (Fhb), powdery mildew, and stripe rust are major wheat diseases globally. Aegilops geniculata Roth (U^gU^gM^gM^g, 2n = 4x = 28), a wild relative of common wheat, is valuable germplasm of disease resistance for wheat improvement and breeding. Here, we report the development and characterization of two substitution accessions with high resistance to powdery mildew, stripe rust and Fhb (W623 and W637) derived from hybrid progenies between Ae. geniculata and hexaploid wheat Chinese Spring (CS). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Genomic in situ hybridizations (GISH), and sequential FISH-GISH studies indicated that the two substitution lines possess 40 wheat chromosomes and 2 Ae. geniculata chromosomes. Furthermore, compared that the wheat addition line parent W166, the 2 alien chromosomes from W623 and W637 belong to the 7M^g chromosomes of Ae. geniculata via sequential FISH-GISH and molecular marker analysis. Nullisomic-tetrasomic analysis for homoeologous group-7 of wheat and FISH revealed that the common wheat chromosomes 7A and 7B were replaced in W623 and W637, respectively. Consequently, lines W623, in which wheat chromosomes 7A were replaced by a pair of Ae. geniculata 7M^g chromosomes, and W637, which chromosomes 7B were substituted by chromosomes 7M^g, with resistance to Fhb, powdery mildew, and stripe rust. This study has determined that the chromosome 7M^g from Ae. geniculata exists genes resistant to Fhb and powdery mildew.     

具有5+12优质亚基节节麦的低分子量谷蛋白基因序列分析

根据低分子量谷蛋白亚基(LMW-GS)基因编码区保守序列设计引物,对具优质高分子量谷蛋白亚基(HMW-GS)5 12的节节麦材料AS63进行扩增,得到长度约为900bp和1000bp的DNA片段,克隆测序后获得3个LMW-GS基因序列LMWD-1(GenBank登录号AY841013)、LMWD-2(GenBank登录号AY841014)和LMWD-3(GenBank登录号AY841015)。它们具有小麦低分子量谷蛋白基因的典型结构特征。其中,LMWD-1和LMWD-2具有完整编码区,长度分别为1065bp和972bp,可分别编码333和302个氨基酸残基的成熟蛋白,且第一个半胱氨酸残基均出现在重复区第13位。在重复区,LMW-1的两个疏水单元为PIIIL和PVIIL,而LMWD-2的两个疏水单元为PIIIL和SVIIL。LMW-1的重复区中还存在一个连续13个Q组成的短肽。LMWD-3由于编码区内存在提前终止密码子,为不表达的假基因。氨基酸序列比较发现,LMW-GS基因的N-末端区序列具有位点特异性,且LMW-1和LMWD-2与普通小麦Gtu-D3位点的LMW-GS基因有很高的一致性。     

Variation in the Chain‐length Distribution Profiles of Endosperm Starch from Triticum and Aegilops Species

The baseline variation data on the chain‐length distribution profiles of endosperm starch were acquired for use as a criterion for variation among bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars/lines. A total of 126 starch samples isolated from closely related species belonging to the Triticum‐Aegilops group, i.e., five Triticum and 22 Aegilops species, were examined. Their side‐chains were debranched by isoamylase and chain‐length distribution profiles were determined by high‐performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC‐PAD). An averaged chain‐length distribution profile calculated from all data indicated that the most abundant side‐chain had a degree of polymerization (DP) of 11 and its proportion based on relative peak area was 7.5%. The side‐chains were classified into four groups, and the average proportions of each group were as follows; DP 6–12, 28.5% (range 26.3–30.9%); DP 13–24, 48.6% (46.2–50.8%); DP 25–36, 13.7% (12.8–15.2%) and DP ≥37, 8.9% (7.2–10.6%). The chain‐length distribution profiles of Triticum and Aegilops species were essentially similar and no peculiar profile was observed. The range of the variation in the proportion of side‐chain groups, however, was comparable to the difference between waxy and non‐waxy bread wheat starches and among starches from wheat grown at different temperatures; this would affect the gelatinization and retrogradation properties of starch.