Characterization of alien chromosomes in backcross derivatives of Triticum aestivum × Elymus rectisetus hybrids by using molecular markers and sequential multicolor FISH/GISH.

Wild Triticeae grasses serve as important gene pools for forage and cereal crops. Based on DNA sequences of genome-specific RAPD markers, sequence-tagged site (STS) markers specific for W and Y genomes have been obtained. Coupling with the use of genomic in situ hybridization, these STS markers enabled the identification of the W- and Y-genome chromosomes in backcross derivatives from hybrids of bread wheat Triticum aestivum L. (2n=42; AABBDD) and Elymus rectisetus (Nees in Lehm.) Á. Löve & Connor (2n=42; StStWWYY). The detection of six different alien chromosomes in five of these derivatives was ascertained by quantitative PCR of STS markers, simple sequence repeat markers, rDNA genes, and (or) multicolor florescence in situ hybridization. Disomic addition line 4687 (2n=44) has the full complement of 42 wheat chromosomes and a pair of 1Y chromosomes that carry genes for resistance to tan spot (caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs.) and Stagonospora nodorum blotch (caused by Stagonospora nodorum (Berk.) Castellani and Germano). The disomic addition line 4162 has a pair of 1St chromosomes and 21 pairs of wheat chromosomes. Lines 4319 and 5899 are two triple substitution lines (2n=42) having the same chromosome composition, with 2A, 4B, and 6D of wheat substituted by one pair of W- and two pairs of St-genome chromosomes. Line 4434 is a substitution-addition line (2n=44) that has the same W- and St-genome chromosomes substituting 2A, 4B, and 6D of wheat as in lines 4319 and 5899 but differs by having an additional pair of Y-genome chromosome, which is not the 1Y as in line 4687. The production and identification of these alien cytogenetic stocks may help locate and isolate genes for useful agronomic traits.