Integration of HMW-GS and retrotransposon marker LTR14 for selection of wheat genotypes combining baking quality and resistance to take-all disease.

Authors

Mozhgan Gholizadeh Vazvani, Roohallah Saberi Riseh, Hossein Dashti, Mohammad Jaffaraghaei, Evelin Loit-Harro

Published in

BMC plant biology. Jul 18, 2026. Epub Jul 18, 2026.

Abstract

Improving bread wheat genotypes that combine durable resistance to take-all disease with high yield and favorable baking quality is an important objective in wheat breeding programs.
In this study, 97 bread wheat genotypes were selected from an initial collection of 1000 accessions based on previous phenotypic evaluations to ensure broad agronomic and quality-related diversity. In addition, three control cultivars (Roshan, Kavir, and Sardari) were included in the evaluation. These genotypes and control cultivars were evaluated for high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) composition, agronomic traits, disease severity (DS), and baking quality (BQ). SDS-PAGE analysis identified 11 HMW-GS, among which 5 + 10 (Glu-D1), 2* (Glu-A1), and 17 + 18 (Glu-B1) were associated with superior baking quality. The retrotransposon-based marker LTR14, previously associated with reduced disease severity, was excised, purified, and sequenced (NCBI GenBank accession number PX660489.1). Sequence analysis revealed partial similarity to γ-gliadin- and storage protein activator-related sequences. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative association between LTR14 and DS (r = -0.405, p < 0.05) and a positive association with lignin content (r = 0.310, p < 0.05). Heatmap clustering divided the genotypes into six groups, among which clusters 3 and 6 exhibited favorable combinations of low disease severity, high baking quality, desirable yield components, and the presence of LTR14 and favorable HMW-GS alleles. Principal component analysis explained 76.2% of the total variation, with PC2 positively associated with baking quality and grain yield traits and negatively associated with disease severity. Using the TOPSIS-based similarity index to the best conditions (SIB ≥ 0.75), nine genotypes were identified as promising candidates with favorable combinations of disease resistance, baking quality, and agronomic performance.
The results provide preliminary sequence-based characterization of the LTR14 retrotransposon-derived marker associated with reduced disease severity and suggest possible relationships with storage protein-related genomic regions. The integrative multi-trait framework applied in this study provides a preliminary strategy for identifying promising wheat genotypes for marker-assisted breeding programs targeting disease resistance, grain quality, and agronomic performance. However, it is important to emphasize that the study was conducted under a single environmental condition and sequence characterization was based on only one resistant genotype. Therefore, the observed associations must be considered preliminary, and substantial further multi-environment validation and broader sequencing analyses are essential to confirm the stability and broader applicability of these findings before any practical recommendations can be made.

PMID:
42471545
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 19 Jul 2026.

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