Zhang Yibo, Huang Shuo, Li Yuqing, Cao Shuaiwei, Ren Hui, Xiang Mingjie, Dong Haitao, Han Jiangna, Zhao Ying, Zhang Xiangxue, Yuan Xunying, Wang Qilin, Wang Yajun, Ouyang Yi, Yang Zujun, Kang Zhensheng, Liu Shengjie, Wu Jianhui, Zeng Qingdong, Han Dejun
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China.
CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
Stress Biol. 2025 Apr 30;5(1):29. doi: 10.1007/s44154-025-00226-9.
The fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is the causal agent of wheat stripe rust which constitutes a major limitation to wheat production. Cloning and applying disease-resistant genes are considered as an effective solution. Chinese wheat cultivar Xingzi 9104 (XZ9104) has exhibited durable resistance across multiple environments since its release. Through quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, eight QTL were found on chromosome arms 1BS, 1BL, 2AL, 2BL, 3BS, 4BL, 5BL and 7BL. YrXZ identified as 1RS.1BL translocation conferred race-specific all-stage resistance to Pst race CYR23. QYrxz.nwafu-1BL.6 and QYrxz.nwafu-3BS.7 were considered as the adult plant resistance genes Yr29 and Yr30, respectively. Notably, QYrxz.nwafu-2BL.5 accounted for 15.75-47.63% of the phenotypic variation across diverse environments and its pyramiding with Yr29 and Yr30 can confer high level of resistance. Other QTL were environment-dependent with minor effects. To clone the above resistance genes, we created a population of over 2,000 M mutants in XZ9104 using ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis and screened various types of susceptible mutants. Using the MutIsoseq approach with five mutant lines susceptible to race CYR23, we rapid isolated a candidate gene for YrXZ encoding coiled-coil nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (CC-NBS-LRR) protein. Integrating cytological analysis, gene-based association analysis, transcriptomic profiling and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), we confirmed that the causal gene for YrXZ was indeed Yr9. This study demonstrated that multiple QTL with different effects contributed to the durable resistance in XZ9104. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in plant defense can inform future strategies for deploying resistance gene and engineering of genetic resistance against evolving diseases.
条形柄锈菌小麦专化型（Pst）是小麦条锈病的病原菌，对小麦生产构成主要限制。克隆和应用抗病基因被认为是一种有效的解决办法。中国小麦品种兴资9104（XZ9104）自育成以来在多种环境中都表现出持久抗性。通过数量性状位点（QTL）分析，在染色体臂1BS、1BL、2AL、2BL、3BS、4BL、5BL和7BL上发现了8个QTL。被鉴定为1RS.1BL易位的YrXZ对Pst小种CYR23具有小种特异性全生育期抗性。QYrxz.nwafu - 1BL.6和QYrxz.nwafu - 3BS.7分别被认为是成株抗性基因Yr29和Yr30。值得注意的是，QYrxz.nwafu - 2BL.5在不同环境中占表型变异的15.75 - 47.63%，将其与Yr29和Yr30聚合可赋予高水平抗性。其他QTL受环境影响且效应较小。为了克隆上述抗性基因，我们利用甲基磺酸乙酯（EMS）诱变在XZ9104中创建了一个超过2000个M突变体的群体，并筛选了各种类型的感病突变体。使用MutIsoseq方法对5个对小种CYR23感病的突变系进行分析，我们快速分离出一个YrXZ的候选基因，该基因编码卷曲螺旋核苷酸结合位点富含亮氨酸重复序列（CC - NBS - LRR）蛋白。结合细胞学分析、基于基因的关联分析、转录组分析和病毒诱导基因沉默（VIGS），我们证实YrXZ的致病基因确实是Yr9。本研究表明，多个具有不同效应的QTL促成了XZ9104的持久抗性。了解植物防御所涉及的分子机制和途径可为未来部署抗性基因和针对不断演变的病害进行遗传抗性工程设计的策略提供参考。
