WP1. Development of segregating populations (Nordic Seed)

Jeppe Reitan

Lead of WP1

A number of populations dedicated to the identification of disease resistance genes/QTL will be developed. Nested association mapping populations, 900 lines in total, will be developed based on five exotic lines with high levels of resistance to different fungal pathogens. In addition, multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross populations, 720 lines in total, will be developed based on eight parent lines/cultivars selected for disease resistance. This plant material will in later WPs be subjected to rigorous phenotyping and genotyping to establish robust marker-trait correlations.

WP2. Advanced phenotyping for multiple disease resistance (AU)

Chris K. Sørensen

Lead of WP2

In this work packages the parental lines from WP1 and the resistant lines from WP3 will be characterized for their phenotypic interaction with the three rust pathogens Puccinia striiformis, P. triticina, P. graminis, and with Pyrenophora tritici-repentis and P. nodorum. Macroscopic phenotyping will include assessment of infection type when the lines are inoculated with different virulence phenotypes of the three rust pathogens and when infiltrated with toxin extracts from Pyrenophora tritici-repetis and P. nodorum. The most resistant lines from WP3 are further characterized at a microscopic level. The phenotype of these lines interaction with the rust pathogens will be assessed by comparing with the characteristics of different reference interactions including non-host resistance, quantitative resistance and qualitative resistance.  

WP3. Phenotyping of segregating populations (AU)

Lise Nistrup Jørgensen

Lead of WP3

Resistance phenotyping will be made under field conditions in two years per disease. Parental lines will be tested in years 1 and 2, whereas entries of the NAM and Magic populations will be carried out in years 3, 4, and 5. Inoculations will be made for the following pathogens 1) Fusarium head blight (Fusarium spp), 2) yellow rust (P. striiformis), 3) brown rust (Puccinia triticina, 4) tan spot (Pyrenophora  tritici-repentis, 5) septoria leaf blotch (Zymoseptoria tritici, 6) powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis). The experiments will include susceptible and resistant reference varieties. Mist and irrigation systems will be put into place where appropriate to ensure disease conducive environments. Disease scores will generally be recorded based on quantitative assessment of percent leaf area infected and qualitative interaction phenotypes where appropriate. Wheat lines with promising disease resistance scores will be investigated in detail in WP2 using advanced phenotyping methodology.

WP4. High-throughput genotyping and association mapping (Nordic Seed) 

Jihad Orabi

Lead of WP4

The highest density of wheat SNP chip available “Illumina Infinium iSelect 90K HD” will be employed in the project to genotype 1620 lines from the NAM and MAGIC populations. The 90K chip provides a good coverage over all wheat chromosomes, allowing capturing the linkage disequilibrium between the disease reactions and the SNP markers by the Genome wide association analysis. Genome Wide Association mapping will be based on the genotypic chip data and high-quality phenotypic data generated by WP2 and WP3. The analyses will be done by using TASEEL and R. Later, associated SNP markers will be transfer to KASP system and employed in the breeding program.

WP5. Pathogen variability (AU) 

Annemarie Fejer Justesen

Lead of WP5

The overall aim is to establish and maintain up-to-date collections of pathogen isolates which will be available for wheat resistance breeding. Samples of P. graminis and P. triticina will be collected from Denmark and neighboring countries based on existing collaboration via the Global Rust Reference Center. Purified isolates will be phenotyped by virulence and appropriate DNA markers. Selected isolates of P. graminis will be further genotyped by a 1500 marker SNP chip at CDL, Minnesota, USA for assignment to global genetic groups. Virulence phenotype data of P. triticina isolates will be analysed in a European context in collaboration with INRA, France. Effector profiling of Danish P.tritici-repentis and P. nodorum isolates will be carried out in collaboration with Curtin University, Australia to determine the prevalent toxin profiles in Denmark.

WP6. Project and data management and dissemination (AU) 

Jens Grønbech Hansen

Lead of WP6

The existing database, which contains genetic information about yellow and stem rust of wheat, will be extended to accommodate wheat brown rust in collaboration with INRA, France. The project will develop a data management plan (DMP) for the collection, storage, control, and preservation of data and results. The DMP will be based on existing web based tools and databases that are already implemented or currently under development by the Global Rust Reference Center (GRRC) and Nordic Seed A/S. This will ensure the maintenance and accessibility of the data beyond the lifetime of the project. Project data will be analysed and displayed via tables, graphics and maps in the Wheat Rust Toolbox (WRT) after login. Public data from WRT will be integrated and  embedded into the GRRC and EuroWheat CMS web site.