Molecular Pathogens 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 106-118 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 106 Review Article Open Access Developing Durable Resistance to Wheat Diseases: Integration of Molecular Breeding Techniques WeiWang Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: wei.wang@jicat.org Molecular Pathogens, 2024, Vol.15, No.3 doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0011 Received: 28 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 15 Apr., 2024 Published: 10 May, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Wang, 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: Wang W., 2024, Developing durable resistance to wheat diseases: integration of molecular breeding techniques, Molecular Pathogens, 15(3): 106-118 (doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0011) Abstract Wheat production is critically threatened by various diseases, necessitating the development of cultivars with durable resistance. This study explores the integration of molecular breeding techniques to enhance disease resistance in wheat. Advances in genetic breeding methods, including transgenic breeding, molecular marker-assisted selection, gene pyramiding, gene silencing, and gene editing, have significantly contributed to the development of wheat cultivars with multiple resistance traits. The continuous emergence of new pathogen races, particularly rust pathogens, underscores the need for innovative strategies combining genomic selection, genome editing, and phenotypic evaluations to develop high-quality, resistant wheat varieties. Additionally, the impact of climate change on disease prevalence necessitates the breeding of wheat varieties with multi-disease resistance that remains effective under varying environmental conditions. This study highlights the importance of integrating modern genomic tools and traditional breeding approaches to achieve sustainable wheat production with enhanced disease resistance. Keywords Molecular breeding; Disease resistance; Wheat cultivars; Genomic selection; Climate resilience 1 Introduction Wheat, a staple food crop globally, is constantly threatened by a variety of diseases caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Among the most significant diseases are rusts (leaf rust, stem rust, and stripe rust), powdery mildew, and various blights and smuts. These diseases can lead to substantial yield losses, affecting global food security and economic stability (Johnson, 2004; Hafeez et al., 2021; Mapuranga et al., 2022). The continuous evolution of pathogen virulence poses a persistent challenge to wheat production, necessitating the development of effective and sustainable disease management strategies (Brown, 2015; Luo et al., 2023). Durable resistance refers to the ability of a plant to resist disease over a prolonged period and across various environmental conditions, despite the presence of the pathogen. This type of resistance is crucial for sustainable wheat production as it reduces the reliance on chemical controls, which can lead to environmental degradation and the development of resistant pathogen strains (Brown, 2015; Mapuranga et al., 2022). Durable resistance is often achieved through the integration of multiple resistance genes, which can provide broad-spectrum and long-lasting protection against a range of pathogens (Lowe et al., 2011; Jabran et al., 2023). The development of wheat cultivars with durable resistance is essential for ensuring food security and reducing the economic impact of wheat diseases (Hafeez et al., 2021; Kozub et al., 2022). This study provids a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in molecular breeding techniques for developing durable resistance to wheat diseases. It will discuss the various genetic and molecular approaches, including marker-assisted selection, gene pyramiding, and genome editing, that have been employed to enhance disease resistance in wheat. Additionally, the study will highlight the challenges and future prospects of integrating these techniques into wheat breeding programs to achieve sustainable disease management. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying gaps in the literature, this study seeks to guide future research and breeding efforts towards the development of wheat cultivars with durable resistance to multiple diseases.
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