Evaluation, enhancement and utilization of wheat germplasm resources with important breeding characteristics

Evaluation, enhancement and utilization of wheat germplasm resources with important breeding characteristics (The Second Prize of National Science and Technology Progress in 2014) : Twelve new identification technologies were made, resolving the bottle-neck technology that poor phenotypic repeatability was often found for complex traits identification, laying a solid technical foundation for digging excellent germplasms with clear target traits. Aimed to the problem of poor phenotypic repeatability of complicated traits with polygenic controlling, new six technologies were made for identifying  Fusarium Head Blight , sheath blight, pre-harvest sprouting, salt pollution and High- and low- molecular weight glutenin, and a perfect precise evaluation technology system was established to identify important traits across seven sites in major wheat-growing region. Six molecular markers were developed to get rid of cytological examination for R genome (Secale cereale) and E genome (Elytrigia elongata) in wheat genome. Totally, 12859 germplasms were identified through these new technologies with complicated traits identified across seven environments, among which 687 were found with more than two important traits, indicating that system, established through this project, was scientific and reliable.

One hundred and twelve germplasms were developed and 67 new genes were identified. All these new germplasms and new genes are material base and strategic reserves for breeding. To meet the demand of breeding, 84 new germplasms were developed through the cross between different cultivars and 28 new germplasms were developed through wild-cross with good genes introgressing from six genus and ten species in triticeae. Sixty-seven new genes were identified with high yield potential, good quality, resistance to disease and pest, anti-abiological stress,  resource high efficiency, and the related linked molecular markers were also identified or developed. A new gene, RA-1, from Triticum turgidum were identified with resistance to wheat aphid, filling the gap in lack of resistance genes in China. According to the demands from different ecology regions and the performance of new germplasms in 7 environments, new effective utilization ways were proposed to provide theoretical basis, technical support and material basis for genetic breeding, controlling biological and abiological disasters.

In this project, germplasm high-efficient utilization technology system was established and 38 new cultivars were developed with accumulative planted areas 164 million mu, opening up a new model about how to combine closely and coordinate development between germplasm research and breeding. Aimed at relatively disjointed problem between germplasm research and breeding demands, the system was established gathering developing identification new technology→ precise evaluation→ germplasms innovation →genetic analysis→new genes，→molecular-markers→field demonstration→free-selection of breeder demonstration→ free-issue  and feedback related information to each other in one, improving the ability to resolve demand of breeding and productivity through germplasm research, resolving the problem of organic connection between public-welfare germplasm research and breeding marketization. Thirty-eight new cultivars with 9 bred by our group were developed, which were derived from 17 new germplasms reported in this project and planted for 164 million mu accumulatively, obtaining the society and the economic efficiency 9 billion yuan. Of whchi , Kechengmai 2, derived from wheat- Aegilops variables, was developed with resistantance to cereal cyst nematode. Yangmai 13 derived from Ningmaizi 25 was bred as the largest production area for weak gluten wheat. Tainong 18 with high yield potential and good quality derived from Tainong 2413 was developed, It become the second big varieties in Shandong Province. The average yield per mu of Tainong 18 was 738kg for successive 3 years and 3 sites.

Totally, ten patents, six new plant variety rights, one industry standard, one hundred twenty-eight articles with 99 ones indexed in SCI, one monograph and two provincial science and technology first prizes were gotten in this project.

The Principal Researcher: Dr. LI Lihui