Abstract
A complete set of six compensating Robertsonian translocation chromosomes involving barley chromosome 7H and three chromosomes of hexaploid wheat was produced. Grain beta-glucan content increased in lines containing 7HL.
Many valuable genes for agronomic performance, disease resistance and increased yield have been transferred from relative species to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through whole-arm Robertsonian translocations (RobT). Although of a great value, the sets of available translocations from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are limited. Here, we present the production of a complete set of six compensating RobT chromosomes involving barley chromosome 7H and three group-7 chromosomes of wheat. The barley group-7 long-arm RobTs had a higher grain beta-glucan content compared to the wheat control. The beta-glucan levels varied depending on the temperature and were higher under hot conditions. Implicated in this increase, the barley cellulose synthase-like F6 gene (CslF6) responsible for beta-glucan synthesis was physically mapped near the centromere in the long arm of barley chromosome 7H. Likewise, wheat CslF6 homoeologs were mapped near the centromere in the long arms of all group-7 wheat chromosomes. With the set of novel wheat-barley translocations, we demonstrate a valuable increase of beta-glucan, along with a resource of genetic stocks that are likely to carry many other important genes from barley into wheat.