The deletion stocks of common wheat

Abstract

Chromosomal breaks occurred in the progeny of a common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell; 2n = 6x = 42, genome formula AABBDD) cultivar Chinese Spring with a monosomic addition of an alien chromosome from Aegilops cylindrica Host (2n = 4x = 28, CCDD) or A. triuncialis L. (2n = 4x = 28, UUCC) or a chromosomal segment from A. speltoides Tausch (2n = 2x = 14, SS). We identified 436 deletions by C-banding. The deletion chromosomes were transmitted stably to the offspring. We selected deletion homozygotes in the progeny of the deletion heterozygotes and established homozygous lines for about 80% of the deletions. We failed to establish homozygous lines for most of the deletions in the short arm of chromosome 2A and for all deletions in the short arm of chromosome 4B, because plants homozygous for these deletions were sterile. We could not obtain any homozygotes for larger deletions in the long arms of chromosomes 4A, 5A, 5B, and 5D. The deletion stocks showed variations in morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits, depending on the size of their chromosomal deficiency, and are powerful tools for physical mapping of wheat chromosomes.