DataSheet1_Combining high carotenoid, grain protein content and rust resistance in wheat for food and nutritional security.docx

Globally, malnutrition has given birth to an alarming predicament, especially in developing countries, and has extensively shifted consumer preferences from conventional high-energy diets to a nutritionally balanced, cost-effective, sustainable, and healthy lifestyle. In keeping with this view and the mandate for developing high-yielding, disease-resistant biofortified staple food (wheat) for catering to the demand-driven market, the current research aimed at stacking together the enhanced grain protein content, carotenoid content, and disease resistance in an elite bread wheat background. The Y gene (PsyE1) and the GpcB1 gene were used as novel sources for enhancing the grain carotenoid and protein content in the commercial elite bread wheat cultivar HD2967. The combination also led to the stacking of resistance against all three foliar rusts owing to linked resistance genes. A stepwise hybridization using Parent 1 (HD2967 + PsyE1/Lr19/Sr25) with Parent 2 (PBW550 + GpcB1/Yr36+ Yr15), coupled with a phenotypic-biochemical selection, narrowed down 2748 F2 individuals to a subset of 649 F2 plants for molecular screening. The gene-specific markers PsyE1, PsyD1, Xucw108, and Xbarc8 for the genes PsyE1, PsyD1, GpcB1, and Yr15, respectively, were employed for forward selection. Four bread wheat lines positive for all the desired genes with high carotenoid (>8ppm) and protein (>13%) content were raised to the F5 generation and will be evaluated for yield potential after bulking. These improved advanced breeding lines developed following multipronged efforts should prove a valuable and unique source for the development of cultivars with improved nutritional quality and rust resistance in wheat breeding programs.

全球范围内，营养不良已构成严峻困境，在发展中国家尤为突出，同时也促使消费者偏好大幅从传统高能量饮食转向营养均衡、经济实惠、可持续且健康的生活方式。契合这一趋势以及满足培育高产、抗病生物强化主食作物（小麦）以适配需求驱动型市场的要求，本研究旨在将籽粒蛋白质含量、类胡萝卜素含量提升与抗病性聚合于优良面包小麦的遗传背景中。本研究选用Y基因（PsyE1）与GpcB1基因，作为提升商用优良面包小麦品种HD2967籽粒类胡萝卜素与蛋白质含量的新来源。该基因组合还通过连锁的抗病基因，实现了对三种叶锈病的抗性聚合。研究以亲本1（HD2967 + PsyE1/Lr19/Sr25）与亲本2（PBW550 + GpcB1/Yr36+ Yr15）开展分步杂交，并结合表型-生化选择，将2748株F2单株筛选缩减至649株F2植株用于分子筛选。研究采用分别靶向PsyE1、PsyD1、GpcB1与Yr15基因的基因特异性标记PsyE1、PsyD1、Xucw108及Xbarc8开展正向选择。最终筛选获得4株携带所有目标基因、籽粒类胡萝卜素含量高于8ppm且蛋白质含量高于13%的面包小麦株系，将其繁育至F5代，待混合收获后将评估其产量潜力。通过多维度育种工作培育的这些改良高级育种株系，将为小麦育种项目中培育兼具优良营养品质与锈病抗性的品种提供宝贵且独特的种质资源。