abstract
-
Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat is an important disease worldwide, affecting the yield and end-use quality. Genetic sources or stable loci for FHB resistance are still limited in breeding programs. A panel of 265 bread wheat accessions from China, CIMMYT-Mexico and other countries was screened for FHB resistance under 5 field experiments in Mexico and China, and QTLs associated with FHB resistance were identified by genome-wide association analysis. FHB screening experiments in China and Mexico showed that Fhb1-harbouring accessions Sumai 3, Sumai 5, Ningmai 9, Yangmai 18 and Tokai 66 had low FHB index, disease severity and DON content in grains in response to different Fusarium species and ecological conditions. Accessions Klein Don Enrique, Chuko and Yumai 34 did not have Fhb1 but still showed good FHB resistance and low toxin accumulation. Sixteen loci associated with FHB resistance or DON content in grains were identified on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5A,5B, 7A, and 7B in multiple environments, explaining phenotypic variation of 4.43%-10.49%. The sources with good FHB resistance could be used in breeding programs to improve FHB resistance, and the significant loci could be further studied and employed for resistance improvement against FHB and toxin accumulation in grains.