Wheat Geneticsand Breeding Laboratory

ResearchTeams

Team name

PrincipalInvestigator

ResearchObjectives

Our laboratory is focused on the identification and characterization of important genes for disease resistance (stripe rust, leaf rust,stemrust, powdery mildew, etc.) and agronomic traits (yield, quality, etc.). We are also working on the introgression of desired genes from wild relatives into elite wheat cultivars.

Team members

l Lei Hua, Ph.D. inDevelopmental Biology, associate professor, Functional analysis of wheat disease resistance genes

l Guiping Wang, Ph.D. in Crop Genetics and Breeding, associate professor,Wide hybridization,and introgression of important genes from wild relatives

l Hongna Li,MS inCrop Genetics and Breeding, associate professor, Bioinformatics analysis and gene discovery

l Shikai Lyu,Ph.D. in Crop Science, associate professor, Germplasm innovation and genetic improvement of wheat

l Shams ur Rehman, Ph.D. in Crop Biotechnology, associate professor, identification of new sources of wheat rust resistance

Research Projects

l Shisheng Chen (PI), 2025-2028, Cloning of the linked rust resistance genes Yr35 and Lr53 introgressed from Aegilops species and their deployment in wheat breeding; National Natural Science Foundation of China;32472159; 0.58 million¥.

l Shisheng Chen(PI), 2024-2027, Development of novel genetic tools for distant hybridization in wheat and the cultivation of new varieties; Key R&D Program of Shandong Province; 2024LZGC034; 2 million¥.

l Shisheng Chen(PI), 2023-2028, Transfer and utilization of functionalgenes from closely related wheat species; National Leading Support Project of Shandong Province; 2023GJJLJRC-084; 1.25 million¥.

l Shisheng Chen (PI), 2022-2025, Cloning of diseaseresistance genes from wheat wild relatives; National youth talent support program;SQ2022QB01387; 1.9 million¥.

l Shisheng Chen (CO-PI), 2022-2027, Transgene cassettes confer broad-spectrum resistance to pathogens in wheat, National Key Research andDevelopment Program of China; 2022YFD1201300; 2 million¥.

l Shisheng Chen(PI), 2022-2025, Young Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province, 0.75million¥.

l Shisheng Chen(PI), Cloning of thestripe rust resistance gene Yr34 introgressed from T. monococcum;Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Shandong; ZR2021MC056; 100 thousand ¥.

l Shisheng Chen(PI), 2021-2024, Yuanduindustry leading talents, 1 million¥.

ResearchAchievements

l Cloning of the wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr47introgressed from Aegilops speltoides:Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina Eriksson (Pt), is one of the most severe foliar diseases of wheat. Breeding for leaf rust resistance is a practical and sustainable method to control this devastating disease. Here, we report the identification of Lr47, a broadly effective leaf rust resistance gene introgressed into wheat from Aegilops speltoides. Lr47 encodes a coiled-coil nucleotidebinding leucine-rich repeat protein that is both necessary and sufficient to confer Pt resistance, as demonstrated by loss-of-function mutations and transgenic complementation. Lr47 introgression lines with no or reduced linkage drag are generated using the Pairing homoeologous1 mutation, and a diagnostic molecular marker for Lr47 is developed. The coiled-coil domain of the Lr47 protein is unable to induce cell death, nor does it have self-protein interaction. The cloning of Lr47 expands the number of leaf rust resistance genes that can be incorporated into multigene transgenic cassettes to control this devastating disease.

l Identification and characterization of Sr22b, a new allele of the wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr22 effective against the Ug99 race group: Wheat stem (or black) rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), has been historically among the most devastating global fungal diseases of wheat. The recent occurrence and spread of new virulent races such as Ug99 have prompted global efforts to identify and isolate more effective stem rust resistance (Sr) genes. Here, we report the map-based cloning of the Ug99-effective SrTm5 gene from diploid wheat Triticum monococcum accession PI 306540 that encodes a typical coiled-coil nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein. This gene, designated as Sr22b, is a new allele of Sr22 with a rare insertion of a large (13.8-kb) retrotransposon into its second intron. Biolistic transformation of a ~112-kb circular BAC plasmid carrying Sr22b into the susceptible wheat variety Fielder was sufficient to confer resistance to stem rust. In a survey of 168 wheat genotypes, Sr22b was present only in cultivated T. monococcum subsp. monococcum accessions but absent in all tested tetraploid and hexaploid wheat lines. We developed a diagnostic molecular marker for Sr22b and successfully introgressed a T. monococcum chromosome segment containing this gene into hexaploid wheat to accelerate its deployment and pyramiding with other Sr genes in wheat breeding programs. Sr22b can be a valuable component of gene pyramids or transgenic cassettes combining different resistance genes to control this devastating disease.

Selected Publications

Shengsheng Bai^#; Guiping Wang^#; Rui Song; …Lihua Zhao; Yan Xue; Zheng Wang^*; Shisheng Chen^*. Mutations in wheat TaAPA2 gene result in pleiotropic effects on plant architecture. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES2024,67:2039–2042; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-024-2620-7

Xiangfeng Wang^#, Hongna Li^#, Tao Shen, … …,Xiaoliang Wang, Xiaojian Qu, Shisheng Chen^*, Li Guo^*. 2023. A near-complete genome sequence of einkorn wheat provides insight into the evolution of wheat A subgenomes. Plant Communications2024,5(5):100768;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100768

Binyang Xu^#; Tao Shen^#; Hong Chen^#; Hongna Li; …Guo-Yue Chen; Ming Hao^*; Shisheng Chen^*. Mapping and characterization of rust resistance genes Lr53 and Yr35introgressed from Aegilops species. Theoretical and Applied Genetics2024, 137(5): 113; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04616-x

Hongyu Li^#; Kairong Li^#; Hongna Li; Chen Yang; …Michael Ayliffe; Haitao Yu^*; Shisheng Chen^*.Mapping and Candidate Gene Analysis of an All-Stage Stem Rust Resistance Gene in Durum Wheat Landrace PI 94701. PLANTS2024,13(16): 2197; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162197

Shams ur Rehman^#; Liang Qiao;Tao Shen; Lei Hua; Hongna Li; Ahmad Zishan; Shisheng Chen^*. Exploring the Frontier of Wheat Rust Resistance: Latest Approaches, Mechanisms, and Novel Insights. PLANTS2024,13(17):2502; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172502

Lei Hua^#, Rui Song^#, Xiaohua Hao^#, …Yuxiu Dong, Xiaodong Wang, Chaozhong Zhang,Shisheng Chen^*. Manipulation of the brown glume and internode 1 gene leads to alterations in lignified tissue coloration, lignification, and pathogen resistance in wheat. Plant Biotechnology Journal 2024,https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.11.617803

Hongna Li^#, Shams ur Rehman^#, Rui Song, Liang Qiao, …Le Wang,Shisheng Chen^*. Chromosome-scale assembly and annotation of the wild wheat relative Aegilops comosa.Scientific Data 2024,https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.15.618371

Yukun Liu; Shuguo Hou; Shisheng Chen. Kinase fusion proteins: intracellular R-proteins in plant immunity. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE2024, 29(3):278-282; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2023.11.002

Hongna Li^#, Lei Hua^#, Shuqing Zhao^#, Ming Hao, … …, Xiaodong Wang^*, Shisheng Chen^*.Cloning of the wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr47introgressed from Aegilops speltoides.Nature Communications 2023, 14(1): 6072;https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41833-2

Jianping Zhang^#, Jayaveeramuthu Nirmala^#, Shisheng Chen^#, Matthias Jost^#,… …,Peng Zhang^*, Matthew N. Rouse^*, Evans Lagudah^*. Single amino acid change can alter the specificity of the multi-allelic wheat stem rust resistance locus SR9. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 7354; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42747-9

Hongna Li^#, Jing Luo^#, Wenjun Zhang, LeiHua, … …,JorgeDubcovsky^*, Shisheng Chen^*. High-resolution mapping of SrTm4, a recessive resistance gene to wheat stem rust. Theoretical and Applied Genetics2023, 136(5): 120; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-023-04369-z

Jian Wang^#, Hongyu Li^#, Tao Shen^#,Shikai Lyu,… …, Matthew N. Rouse^*, Shisheng Chen^*. High-resolution genetic mapping and identification of candidate genes for the wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr8155B1.The Crop Journal2023,11(6), 1852-1861; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2023.09.006

DengjiJiang^#, LeiHua^#, Chaozhong Zhang^#, Hongna Li, … …, HaoLi, JorgeDubcovsky, Shisheng Chen^*.Mutations in the miRNA165/166 binding site of the HB2 gene result in pleiotropic effects on morphological traits in wheat. The Crop Journal 2023, 11(1): 9-20; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2022.05.002

XiaopengRen^#, ChuyuanWang^#, ZhuangRen^#, JingWang, … …,Shisheng Chen^*, XiaodongWang^*.Genetics of resistance to leaf rust in wheat: an overview in a genome-wide level. Sustainability2023, 15(4): 3247; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043247

Lin Huang^*, Yinghui Li^*, Shisheng Chen^*,SambasivamPeriyannan^*, Tzion Fahima^*.Editorial: Advances in crop resistance breeding using modern genomic tools. Frontiers in Plant Science2023, 14:1143689; https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1143689

JingLuo^#, Matthew N.Rouse^#, Hua Lei, … …,YanpengWang^*, Jorge Dubcovsky^*, Shisheng Chen^*. Identification and characterization of Sr22b, a new allele of the wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr22 effective against the Ug99 race group, Plant Biotechnology Journal 2022, 20(3): 554–563; https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13737

ShengshengBai^#, ShuyongPang^#, HongnaLi, … …,Shisheng Chen^*, XiaodongWang^*. Broad-spectrum resistance to leaf rust in the Argentinean wheat cultivar “Klein Proteo” is controlled by LrKP located on chromosome 2BS.Agriculture2022, 12(11): 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12111836

Saarah Kuzay^#, Huiqiong Lin^#, Chengxia Li, Shisheng Chen, … …,Korff von Maria, Jorge Dubcovsky^*. WAPO-A1 is the causal gene of the 7AL QTL for spikelet number per spike in wheat.PLoS genetics2022, 18(1): e1009747; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009747

Hongna Li^#, LeiHua^#, Matthew N.Rouse, Tianya Li,… …, Jorge Dubcovsky^*, Shisheng Chen^*. Mapping and characterization of a wheat stem rust resistance gene in durum wheat “Kronos”. Frontiers in Plant Science2021,12:751398; https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.751398

Shisheng Chen^{# *}, Joshua Hegarty^#, Tao Shen^#, Lei Hua, … …, Chaozhong Zhang, Jorge Dubcovsky^*. Stripe rust resistance gene Yr34 (synonym Yr48) is located within a distal translocation of Triticum monococcum chromosome 5A^mL into common wheat.Theoretical and Applied Genetics2021,134: 2197–2211; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-021-03816-z

Shisheng Chen^#, Matthew N.Rouse, WenjunZhang, … …, Jordan Briggs, Jorge Dubcovsky^*. Wheat gene Sr60 encodes a protein with two putative kinase domains that confers resistance to stem rust; New Phytologist2020,225(2): 948-959; https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16169

Patents

（团队建立以来、以研究院为单位或合作单位获得的相关专利，包括专利人，专利名称，专利号，授权时间，授权机构或国家。仿照个人专利格式）

Shisheng Chen,Hongna Li,Lei Hua,Xiaodong Wang, Rui Song, Yanna Liu; Wheat leaf rust resistance protein, its coding gene and application;ZL 2022 1 1247709.2;8-18-2023;CN 116253784 B; China

Shisheng Chen,Hongna Li,Guiping Wang, Lei Hua, Tao Shen, Hongyu Li, Dengji Jiang, Jing Luo, Shengsheng Bai; A diagnostic molecular marker for Lr47, its detection method and application; ZL 2022 1 0114498.9; 11-9-2022; CN 114480709 B; China

Shisheng Chen,Hongna Li,Lei Hua,Shuyong Pang,Guiping Wang, Dengji Jiang, Keke Wei, Yanna Liu; Wheat stem rust resistance protein, its coding gene and application; ZL 2021 1 0969875.2; 5-2-2023; CN 114644703 B; China

Shisheng Chen, Jing Luo, Lei Hua; A diagnostic molecular marker for SrTm5, its detection method and application; ZL 2020 1 1374520.0; 7-12-2022; CN 112359130 B; China

Shisheng Chen,Tao Shen, Lei Hua,Jing Zhang; The resistance proteins, resistance genes, and their applications in wheat leaf rust disease; 2024107672380; China

Shisheng Chen,Jinwei Yang, Hongna Li,Rui Song; Resistance protein Lr.ace-4A, resistance genes, and their applications in wheat leaf rust disease; 202411102330; China

Shisheng Chen,Hongna Li, Binyang Xu,Tao Shen; A diagnostic molecular marker for Lr53 and Yr35, its detection method and application; 2024101384248; China

Guiping Wang, Hao Li, Hongyu Li, Shisheng Chen; A molecular marker for detecting the wheat Su1-Ph1 gene, methods for inducing homoeologous recombination, and their applications; 2023112839261; China