Molecular Characterization of Bunt Resistance in Romanian Wheat Line F00628G34-M, Selected From a Triticale (Triticosecale) X Winter Bread Wheat (Triticumaestivum) Cross

Bunts are diseases produced by Tilletiacaries, T. laevis, T. controversa and T. secalis with severe effects on wheat yield and quality. Their importance has increased, especially in organic agriculture, where chemical treatments are forbidden. Rye is highly resistant to Tilletia sp. Breeders at NARDI Fundulea obtained a bunt resistant line F000628G34-M derived from a Triticale/2* wheat cross. Sixty eight randomly extracted F4 lines from a cross between F000628G34-M and susceptible wheat cultivarLiterawere phenotyped (using local populations of Tilletia sp.) and genotyped with 20 specific markers for 1 RS and 15 SSR markers located on 1AS. Chi square test showed significant deviation (P < 5%) from the expected Mendelian monogenic segregation, suggesting that the resistance gene is recessive or partially dominant and/or the resistance is affected by suppressing factors from wheat genome. Molecular markers assay proved a significant association of the bunt resistance inherited from the F00628G34-M line, with the 1A/1R translocation, suggesting that the bunt resistance gene originated from rye could be locatedin the region homeologous with the Glu-A3 locus and close to Xgwm1223 microsatellite locus. To our knowledge, this is the first time when it is proven that a bunt resistance gene is associated with the rye chromatin transfer to wheat.