Dehydration responsive element-binding protein (DREB) serves as a core transcriptional regulator of abiotic stress responses, yet a systematic DREB gene lo

The relationship between the genetic diversity and genetic characteristics of wild plant germplasm can provide insights for better utilization and conservation of genetic resources. Bunchgrass species in the genus Elymus are important for forage and grassland restoration in Northwest China. In this study, eight phenotypic traits were evaluated in 81 accessions of four Elymus species in the northwest region of China, and genetic diversity analysis was performed using 16 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. In the phenotypic trait analysis, Elymus sibiricus had the highest coefficient of variation for single-plant weight(58.24%) and the lowest coefficient of variation for the number of spikelets(0.005%). Clustering based on phenotypic traits placed all varieties into four groups, which were also supported by principal component analysis (PCA). 16 pairs of SSR markers were screened with high polymorphism, with a polymorphism information content (PIC) range of 0.3648–0.7794 and an interspecific PIC range of 0.465–0.611 in Elymus species. The unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean approach applied to SSR marker data also divided the 81 accessions into four groups, similar to the results based on phenotypic traits. The results of PCA and population structure analysis based on SSR data were similar. The findings presented here will facilitate the collection and conservation of Elymus germplasm resources and provide theoretical references for the future classification, breeding, innovation, utilization, and conservation of germplasm.

Wheat powdery mildew and stripe rust, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) and Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), respectively, are two devastating diseases that threaten global wheat production. Long-term reliance on a limited number of resistance genes can accelerate resistance breakdown. Triticum urartu (2n = 14, A^uA^u), the progenitor of the wheat A subgenome, serves as a valuable gene pool for disease resistance. In this study, we identified three T. urartu accessions exhibiting high resistance to Bgt and Pst. Molecular marker analysis indicated that PI 428215 and PI 428315 carry Pm60b, whereas CITR 17664 carries both Pm60 and YrU1. Durum–T. urartu amphiploids (AABBA^uA^u) displayed resistance responses identical to their T. urartu parent and were used as bridges to transfer these resistance genes into a common wheat (AABBDD) background. Using marker-assisted selection (MAS), recurrent backcrossing, selfing, and phenotypic screening, we developed wheat lines carrying Pm60, Pm60b, YrU1, or Pm60 + YrU1. Segregation analysis in backcross-derived populations supported the functionality of these genes in the common wheat background. The selected introgression lines have high resistance to Bgt and Pst and showed no obvious adverse agronomic effects, providing useful germplasm for wheat disease resistance breeding. This study used a “multi-resistance, multi-combination” pyramiding strategy by MAS to introduce resistance genes from wild wheat into common wheat.