Genetic Diversity and Disease-Resistant Gene Mining of Wheat Landraces in the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract

Wheat landraces in the Mediterranean Basin are valuable genetic resources harboring rich diversity and adaptive traits, especially disease resistance, which is crucial for sustainable wheat production. In this study, 320 wheat landrace accessions collected from six Mediterranean countries (Spain, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Morocco, and Serbia) were analyzed for genetic diversity using 36 SSR markers and genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology. The results revealed high genetic diversity among Mediterranean wheat landraces, with the Egyptian and Spanish accessions showing the highest polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.768 and 0.752, respectively). Population structure analysis clustered the accessions into five distinct genetic groups, corresponding to their geographical origins and ecological zones. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 15 genomic regions associated with resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) and 11 regions associated with leaf rust (Puccinia triticina). Functional annotation indicated these regions contained 28 candidate disease-resistant genes, including NLR (nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat) family genes, receptor-like kinases (RLKs), and transcription factors. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the genetic diversity of Mediterranean wheat landraces and identifies novel disease-resistant gene resources, laying a foundation for their utilization in wheat breeding programs.

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