Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol.16, No.6, 254-261 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/tgg 258 6 Case Studies: MAS Applications in Lodging-Resistant Rye Breeding 6.1 German hybrid rye programs for lodging resistance improvement In Germany, breeders are not only confronted with how to increase the production of rye, but also with how to make it "stand firm". Lodging resistance has always been an old problem. The conventional selection methods in the past always struggled to achieve both high yield and resistance to lodging. However, in recent years, some breeding teams have integrated molecular markers into the breeding process, especially in hybrid rye, attempting to solve this long-standing problem through genetic means. They attempted to develop semi-dwarf varieties sensitive to gibberellin, with the aim of reducing plant height without losing yield, while making the stems harder and more wind-resistant. This type of breeding program utilizes the latest SMART strategy and genomic information, which not only makes it more flexible in controlling chain negative effects but also strikes a balance between stability and lodging resistance (Figure 2). Dwarfing genes such as Ddw1 have become key, and the related molecular markers have also accelerated the screening process (Litvinov et al., 2020; Hackauf et al., 2022). Figure 2 (A) C. purpurea infects the ovary and replaces the rye grain with a dark fungal body, the ergot sclerotium. (B) The gene Rfp1 results in restoration of male fertility in P-type CMS rye hybrids and increases ergot defense. (C) Male sterile plants in P-type CMS rye hybrids with a restorer index of ~50% increase yield potential due to a female advantage but weaken the ergot defense (Adopted from Hackauf et al., 2022) 6.2 QTL-based breeding for early-maturing lodging-resistant cultivars in Poland The situation in Poland is slightly different. The climate is short and the planting window is tight, so early maturity of the variety is the top priority. However, it is often difficult to balance early maturity and anti-lodging, which requires more refined strategies. There, breeders attempted to identify gene regions that could simultaneously control plant height and stem strength through a combination of QTL mapping and marker selection. Long-term field data have also verified the effect: hybrid varieties perform better than population varieties in terms of lodging resistance and have more stable yields. Some achievements are attributed to the combination of molecular means in breeding to control the genetic factors of the risk of tillage from the source, and then continuously iterated through agronomic practice. This approach is considered to be relatively suitable for the farming conditions in Poland (Kostrzewska and Jastrz wob ska, 2025). 6.3 Preliminary MAS-based breeding efforts for winter rye in Northern China Domestically, especially in the breeding of winter rye in the north, the field of molecular markers has only just begun. However, it's not that they haven't taken action. Some units have already begun to try using high-throughput PCR and KASP markers specifically designed for rye to locate and screen key anti-lodging sites.
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