Genetic analyses of Glu-1S ^sh in wheat/Aegilops sharonensis hybrid progenies and development of alien HMW-GSs gene-specific markers

Aegilops sharonensis is a diploid relative of wheat and has novel high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) encoded by Glu-1Ssh. Hybrids of tetraploid wheat species and Ae. sharonensis have been successfully created by wild crosses. In our study, we conducted backcrosses and introduced the novel HMW-GSs of Ae. sharonensis into hexaploid wheat species. The results of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and cytogenetics indicated that lines carrying the HMW-GSs encoded by Glu-1Ssh had varied chromosome numbers ranging from 35 to 50. Among these, three lines with 42 chromosomes (25-8, 33-1, and 42-2) were identified by visual examination. Except for possessing the alien HMW-GSs of Ae. sharonensis, the agricultural traits of the three lines were similar to those of common wheat, indicating their potential for wheat breeding. Additionally, we developed two molecular markers specific to the x- and y-type HMW-GSs genes of Ae. sharonensis. These two molecular markers were validated in backcross progenies and were proven to accurately trace and distinguish Ae. sharonensisGlu-1Ssh from Glu-1A, Glu-1B, and Glu-1D of wheat. Therefore, the Glu-1Ssh HMW-GSs lines with 42 chromosomes, together with gene-specific markers, will be valuable for molecular-assisted selection in alien genes utilization and wheat breeding.