Molecular Mapping of the Russian Wheat Aphid Resistance Gene Dn2414 in Wheat

Russian wheat aphid (RWA) [Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov)] is an important pest of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in several production areas of the world. The most effective and economical approach for controlling RWA is to use resistant cultivars. A wheat line, ST-ARS 02RWA2414-11 (2414-11), showed a high level of resistance to RWA biotype 2. Our objectives were to map the resistance gene and develop polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS). A mapping population of 212 F2 individuals was developed from a cross of 2414-11 and the susceptible cultivar Yuma. The F2 individuals and F2:3 families were infested using biotype 2 RWA. The RWA resistance of 2414-11 is controlled by a single major gene, provisionally designated as Dn2414. Using standard PCR, 30 marker loci were found to be linked to Dn2414 with recombination frequencies (theta) of 0.00 to 0.27 and logarithm of the odds to the base 10 (LOD) scores of 7.6 to 66.1. Of the 30 markers, 26 were tightly linked to Dn2414 with theta