Plant Gene and Traits 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 174-183 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 174 Research Insight Open Access Cloning, Functional Analysis, and Breeding Application of the Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene MlWE74inWheat Feng Huang , Xiaoyu Du, Shaokui Zou, Lina Wang, Yulin Han Zhoukou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China Corresponding email: huangfeng0714@163.com Plant Gene and Trait, 2024, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0018 Received: 22 Jun., 2024 Accepted: 23 Jul., 2024 Published: 31 Jul., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Huang 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: Huang F., Du X.Y., Zou S.K., Wang L.N., and Han Y.L., 2024, Cloning, functional analysis, and breeding application of the powdery mildew resistance gene MlWE74 in wheat, Plant Gene and Trait, 15(4): 174-183 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0018) Abstract The MlWE74 gene, a novel powdery mildew resistance gene, has garnered widespread attention for its potential to enhance disease resistance in wheat. This study provides a comprehensive summary of the positional cloning, functional analysis, and breeding application of the wheat powdery mildew resistance gene MlWE74. A systematic analysis of the cloning strategy, functional mechanisms, and its application in molecular breeding was conducted, evaluating its contributions to disease resistance improvement and its practical value in modern wheat breeding. The findings reveal that the MlWE74 gene holds significant potential for use in wheat disease resistance breeding. Its functional analysis and breeding applications will further advance the development of resistant wheat varieties. Future research should focus on in-depth studies of the MlWE74 gene, combining gene editing and multi-gene resistance strategies to enhance its breeding efficiency. The successful cloning and functional analysis of the MlWE74 gene offer new perspectives and tools for the development of powdery mildew-resistant wheat varieties. With the advancement of genome selection, marker-assisted breeding, and gene editing technologies, the application of MlWE74 is expected to greatly improve disease resistance in wheat varieties, contributing to global food security. Keywords Wheat; Powdery mildew; MlWE74 gene; Positional cloning; Molecular breeding 1 Introduction Wheat powdery mildew, caused by the fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a significant threat to wheat production worldwide. This disease can lead to substantial yield losses and reduced grain quality, posing a major challenge to global food security (Li et al., 2017; Zhao et al., 2017; Mapuranga et al., 2022). The utilization of genetic resistance is one of the most effective and environmentally friendly strategies to combat this disease. Wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum var. dicoccoides), a progenitor of modern wheat, has been identified as a valuable genetic resource for enhancing disease resistance in common wheat (Huang and Röder, 2004; Zhu et al., 2021). The powdery mildew resistance gene MlWE74, derived from wild emmer wheat accession G-748-M, has shown promise in conferring resistance to this devastating disease. Genetic analysis has revealed that MlWE74 is a single dominant gene located on the terminal region of chromosome 2BS. The gene is flanked by molecular markers WGGBD412 and WGGBH346 within a 0.25 cM genetic interval, corresponding to a 799.9 kb genomic region in the Zavitan reference sequence (Zhu et al., 2021). The identification and functional analysis of MlWE74 provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying powdery mildew resistance and offer potential for its application in wheat breeding programs. Despite the identification of numerous powdery mildew resistance genes, breeding for durable resistance remains challenging. The rapid evolution of the pathogen and the breakdown of resistance genes necessitate the continuous discovery and deployment of new resistance genes (Li et al., 2020). Traditional breeding methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, gene-based disease resistance breeding strategies, such as marker-assisted selection (MAS), are essential for the efficient and precise incorporation of resistance genes into elite cultivars (Huang and Röder, 2004; Kang et al., 2020). The development of molecular markers linked to resistance genes, such as the co-segregated marker WGGBD425 for MlWE74, facilitates the rapid and accurate transfer of these genes into breeding lines (Zhu et al., 2021).
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