Meta-analysis of QTL for Fusarium head blight resistance in Chinese wheat landraces

Epidemics of Fusarium head blight (FHB), incited by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, in wheat cause significant reductions in grain yield and quality. Numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FHB resistance have been reported from Chinese sources. However, the relationships among QTL from different landraces have not been characterized. We earlier mapped QTL for FHB resistance using low-density maps developed from five recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations involving Chinese landraces ‘Haiyanzhong’ (HYZ), ‘Wangshuibai’ (WSB), ‘Baishanyuehuang’ (BSYH), ‘Huangfangzhu’ (HFZ), and ‘Huangcandou’ (HCD) as FHB resistant parents. In this study, we used maps of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) developed from the five populations and identified 31 QTL on 16 chromosomes; 10 QTL were new. We constructed a consensus map and identified six meta-QTL (MQTL) and SNP within the MQTL regions using meta-analysis. Two of the MQTL were on chromosome 3BS (3BSd and 3BSc), and one on each of chromosomes 3A, 2D, 3D, and 4D. Twenty-two SNP closely linked to MQTL were converted into breeder friendly Kompetitive Allele Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (KASP) assays, which should be useful for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs.