Molecular-Genetic Characterization of Spring Bread Wheat Accessions Developed at the “Nemchinovka” Breeding

The study was conducted to assess the genetic potential of modern varieties and breeding lines of spring soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) bred at the Federal Research Centre “Nemchinovka” for the presence of economically valuable genetic elements (wheat-rye translocations 1RS and alleles of the dwarfing genes Rht1(=Rht-B1b), Rht11 (=Rht-B1e) and Rht2 (=Rht-D1b) for subsequent use in marker-assisted breeding programmers aimed at creating adaptive varieties for the Central Non-Black Earth Region. The object of the study was a collection of 71 modern breeding samples of spring soft wheat, consisting of 20 varieties and 51 lines at the stage of competitive variety testing (creation period 2010-2025). PCR with the microsatellite marker SCM9 was used to detect translocations. The presence of dwarfing genes Rht11 (=Rht-B1e) and Rht2 (=Rht-D1b) were identified by KASP analysis (competitive allele-specific PCR). Plant height and lodging resistance were assessed in the field conditions of the Central Non-Black Earth Region during two growing seasons (2022-2023). The wheat rye translocation 1RS.1BL was detected in 5 accessions: the new variety Marfa and four lines of competitive variety testing (KSI-98-23, KSI-102-23, KSI-137-23, KSI-155-23). The 1RS.1AL translocation was absent in all accessions. Two lines (KSI-87-23 and KSI-89-23) carried the Rht-B1b allele, which correlated with reduced plant height (80 cm) and high lodging resistance. The remaining 69 accessions were found to have wild-type Rht-B1a/Rht-D1a alleles. Rht-D1b (Rht2) and Rht-B1e (Rht11) alleles were not detected. Our data support the use of the 1RS.1BL translocation and the Rht-B1b allele in current spring wheat breeding programmers for the Central Non-Black Earth Region. The genotyping results can be used to assess the impact of 1RS.1BL and Rht B1b on productivity, lodging, disease and drought resistance, and as a marker for indirect selection in further breeding programmers.