Characterization of potential disease resistance related polymorphic genes in wheat.

Understanding the function of genes containing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in wheat is essential for devising meaningful selection strategies for marker assisted breeding. Using BLAST against genomes available at the Ensembl and Phytozome databases, we identified four uncharacterized genes that have homologs in wheat, oats, rice, sorghum and Brachypodium. SNP markers for these genes are available on Illumina Infinium Array. Previous transcriptomic studies showed relative higher transcript abundance of Traes_1AS_8BAC45B9A1.2 in leaf (13.44); Traes_1BS_6C1F7D5C7.2 in spike (9.48); Traes_4AL_7D9AE3F65.1 in root (2.30) and Traes_2DL_45AD229B2.1 in leaf (2.06). While the functions of these genes are not yet understood, the Traes_1BS_6C1F7D5C7.2 showed transcriptional regulation under abiotic stresses. Protein sequence and structure analysis predicted Traes_1AS_8BAC45B9A1.2, Traes_2DL_45AD229B2.1 and Traes_4AL_7D9AE3F65.1 had the NB-ARC and LRR domains common in disease response. Traes_1BS_6C1F7D5C7.2 had a BetVI domain, also associated with disease response. To determine the function and precise role of these four genes, we are using forward and reverse genetic approaches using Brachypodium as a genetic platform. Further physiological and biochemical studies will shed light on function(s) of these genes under biotic and abiotic stress in wheat.