Transcriptome analysis revealed the potential mechanism of a wheat-Th. elongatum translocation line YNM158 against Fusarium head blight

Abstract Background Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum species complex is a destructive disease in wheat worldwide. Lack of FHB resistant germplasm is a barrier in wheat breeding for the resistance to FHB. Thinopyrum elongatum is an important relative species successfully used for genetic improvement in wheat. Results In this study, a translocation line YNM158 with a YM158 genetic background and carrying the fragment of diploid Th. elongatum 7EL chromosome created by ⁶⁰Co-γ radiation showed high resistance to FHB under both filed and greenhouse conditions. The transcriptome analysis validated that the horizontal transfer gene GST is one of the important contributors to FHB resistance in pathogen infection stage, whereas 7EL chromosome fragment also carries other genes regulated by F. graminearum during the colonization stage. In addition, the introgression of 7EL fragment affected the expression of wheat genes which were enriched in the resistance pathways including phosphatidylinositol signaling system, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, plant-pathogen interaction and MAPK signaling pathway at different stages after F. graminearium infection. Conclusions The study provides a novel germplasm for wheat resistance to FHB and new insights into the molecular mechanism of wheat resistance to FHB.