Emails: wanghongwei@sdau.edu.cn ; lkong@sdau.edu.cn

Through decades of research, it has been established that a highly valuable cluster of resistance genes, comprising Fhb7, Lr19, Sr25, Sr43, Bdv2, and others, is located at the termini of chromosome 7E from different Thinopyrum species.Utilizing wheat-Thinopyrum substitution lines to construct mapping populations, we successfully cloned the Fhb7 gene, which confers broad resistance to Fusarium diseases, including Fusarium head blight (FHB) and crown rot (CR).

Further studies revealed that Fhb7 can broadly detoxify trichothecene toxins through de-epoxidation, thereby highlighting its potential in combating FHB and reducing deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in wheat breeding.

Additionally, we cloned the well-known leaf rust resistance gene Lr19, which encodes a CC-NLR receptor protein capable of directly and/or indirectly recognizing avirulent genes in leaf rust, thereby initiating a broad-spectrum resistance.Based on genetic mapping of this gene cluster, Fhb7, Lr19, and Sr25, along with others, have been independently introgressed into various wheat backgrounds, demonstrating improved resistance without penalizing wheat grain yield.

Furthermore, by overcoming the linkage with the 7E-psy gene, we have pyramided double or triple resistance genes, creating a selection model for deployment in multiple resistance breeding.