Molecular Plant Breeding 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 403-416 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 403 Research Report Open Access Developing Disease-Resistant Wheat Varieties Through Genomic Approaches Chengyang Long1,2,Wei Hua1, Jinghuan Zhu1,MinFan1 1 Institute of Crop and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China 2 College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China Corresponding email: fanm5249@gmail.com Molecular Plant Breeding, 2024, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0038 Received: 15 Nov., 2024 Accepted: 17 Dec., 2024 Published: 25 Dec., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Long et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Long C.Y., Hua W., Zhu J.H., and Fan M., 2024, Developing disease-resistant wheat varieties through genomic approaches, Molecular Plant Breeding, 15(6): 403-416 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0038) Abstract Wheat diseases, particularly those caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses, are one of the major threats to global food production. Advances in genomics have provided new opportunities for developing disease-resistant wheat varieties. By identifying resistance genes, quantitative trait loci (QTL), and utilizing gene-editing tools, breeders can accelerate the development of resistant varieties. This study reviews the latest progress in developing disease-resistant wheat using genomic approaches, with a focus on the application of genomic selection, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), gene editing, and multi-omics integration. These methods are crucial for improving wheat’s resistance to diseases. Research has shown that genomic selection and GWAS have been successfully applied in improving resistance to various wheat diseases, including leaf rust, stripe rust, and powdery mildew. Gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, have enhanced wheat's disease resistance by targeting and editing resistance genes. The integration of multi-omics data provides new insights for precision breeding for disease resistance. Genomic approaches enable breeders to more accurately select disease-resistant wheat varieties, shorten the breeding cycle, and increase the durability of resistance genes. The application of genomic tools also helps to better understand wheat's response mechanisms to pathogens, thereby promoting global food security. Keywords Genomic selection; Genome-wide association studies; Gene editing; Wheat disease resistance; Multi-omics integration 1 Introduction Wheat is a staple crop grown worldwide, providing a significant source of dietary protein and calories for the global population. However, wheat production faces numerous challenges, particularly from diseases that can severely impact yield and quality. Among these, rust diseases (leaf rust, stem rust, and stripe rust) and Fusarium head blight (FHB) are particularly problematic, causing substantial economic losses and posing threats to food security (Singh et al., 2016; Babu et al., 2020; Ghimire et al., 2020). The continuous evolution of new pathogen races exacerbates these challenges, rendering many existing resistance genes ineffective (Babu et al., 2020; Mapuranga et al., 2022). The importance of developing disease-resistant wheat varieties cannot be overstated. Genetic resistance is the most sustainable and eco-friendly approach to managing wheat diseases, reducing the reliance on chemical fungicides and minimizing environmental impact (Babu et al., 2020; Ghimire et al., 2020; Mapuranga et al., 2022). Traditional breeding methods have successfully introduced resistance genes into wheat cultivars, but these methods are often time-consuming and may not keep pace with the rapid evolution of pathogens (Mondal et al., 2016; Dracatos et al., 2023). Therefore, there is a pressing need for innovative breeding strategies that can expedite the development of disease-resistant varieties. Genomic-based breeding approaches offer significant advantages over conventional methods. Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics have revolutionized wheat genomics, enabling the identification and deployment of resistance genes with greater precision and efficiency (Babu et al., 2020; Dracatos et al., 2023). High-throughput genotyping platforms and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) facilitate the dissection of complex traits and the construction of high-density genetic maps, which are crucial for marker-assisted and genomic selection (Mondal et al., 2016; Babu et al., 2020). These technologies allow for the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzMg==