DNA marker genotyping of Brazilian spring wheat germplasm

It is estimated that by 2050, the world will need to feed over 9 billion people. Wheat production will need to increase by more than 60% to meet the demands of these consumers. However, wheat demand has outstripped production in 8 of the 15 years from 1998 to 2013. Improved wheat varieties and modern agronomic practices can greatly improve production. Genetic variability is a crucial element in any wheat breeding program. Eighty-one wheat lines from a variety of Brazilian breeding institutions were received in 2014 as part of a Canada-Brazil germplasm exchange. The lines were distributed to a group of Canadian wheat researchers for further study. It was anticipated that the material would be a valuable source of disease resistance, particularly for fusarium head blight (FHB) and leaf rust. At the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Ottawa Research and Development Centre, 79 of these lines were characterised using over 20 DNA markers (including SSR, STS and SNP based markers) for more than 10 wheat characteristics. Traits included resistance to important diseases such as FHB, leaf and stem rusts including Ug99 races; grain quality (Glu-B1 overexpressed Bx7); and plant height (Rht-B1, Rht-D1, Rht8). We have identified a number of Brazilian lines that may have useful genes for breeding purposes. For example, Brazilian wheat lines have been found that carry DNA markers for Sr2, overexpressed Bx7 and Rht8.