The Bo1-specific PCR marker AWW5L7 is predictive of boron tolerance status in a range of exotic durum and bread wheats

High soil boron (B) constitutes a major soil problem in many parts of the world, particularly in low-rainfall areas and land under irrigation. Low accumulation of B in the shoot or grain of cereal crops is correlated with the maintenance of biomass production and grain yield under high B conditions, suggesting that this trait is an important component of field tolerance. A novel screening protocol to measure B accumulation in aerated and supported hydroponics was validated using a set of known and exotic bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) accessions. Furthermore, B accumulation in two Triticum urartu Tumanian ex Gandilyan and 54 Triticum monococcum L. accessions was measured and showed considerable phenotypic variation. However, B accumulation in these lines was higher than that observed in the most tolerant durum or bread wheats. Mapping of high B tolerance in the durum population AUS14010/Yallaroi revealed a locus possibly allelic to Bo1, a major source of B toxicity tolerance previously identified in bread wheat. Here, we show that the Bo1-specific codominant PCR marker AWW5L7 is predictive of B tolerance status among exotic durum and bread wheat accessions. All tolerant durum accessions assayed carried very similar AWW5L7 marker fragments, indicating wide distribution of this allele among tolerant durum wheats. Three bread wheat accessions had tolerance that was independent of Bo1 and is probably located on chromosome 4A. These lines represent a valuable genetic resource for B toxicity tolerance breeding in wheat.

Segregation of Scab Resistance in Three Apple Populations: Molecular Marker and Phenotypic Analyses

The codominant PCR marker AL07-SCAR closely linked to the Vf gene for scab resistance was used to genotype seedlings in three apple populations in which each parent (`GoldRush', `Enterprise', `Pristine', and CQR10T17) was resistant to apple scab. The marker was used to predict the genotype at the Vf locus. Each parent was heterozygous. In two populations (CQR10T17 × `GoldRush' and `Pristine' × `GoldRush') seedlings segregated 1:2:1 for fragments associated with VfVf:Vfvf:vfvf as predicted by Mendelian segregation. However, in another population (`GoldRush' × `Enterprise') the ratio was 1.5:1:1.5, suggesting some type of selection against heterozygotes. Fruiting seedlings were rated for the presence of fruit scab. No scab was observed on seedlings homozygous for the PCR marker linked to Vf, a small amount of scab was observed on one heterozygous seedling out of 35, and 22 of 26 seedlings that were homozygous recessive, had fruit scab.