Linkage drag analysis in three Aegilops speltoides introgressions carrying Sr47 in modern durum and hard red spring wheat germplasm.

key messageYield and quality tests of wheat lines derived from RWG35 show they carry little, or no linkage drag and are the preferred source of Sr47 for stem rust resistance. Three durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) lines, RWG35, RWG36, and RWG37 carrying slightly different Aegilops speltoides introgressions, but each carrying the Sr47 stem rust resistance gene, were backcrossed to three durum and three hard red spring (HRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars to produce 18 backcross populations. Each population was backcrossed to the recurrent parent six times and prepared for yield trials to test for linkage drag. Lines carrying the introgression (S-lines) were compared to euploid sibling lines (W-lines) and their parent. Yield trials were conducted from 2018 to 2021 at three locations. Three agronomic and several quality traits were studied. In durum, lines derived from RWG35 had little or no linkage drag. Lines derived from RWG36 and RWG37 still retained linkage drag, most notably involving yield and thousand kernel weight, but also test weight, falling number, kernel hardness index, semolina extract, semolina protein content, semolina brightness, and peak height. In HRS wheat, the results were more complex, though the general result of RWG35 lines having little or no linkage drag and RWG36 and RWG37 lines retaining linkage drag still applied. But there was heterogeneity in the Glenn35S lines, and Linkert lines had problems combining with the Ae. speltoides introgressions. We concluded that introgressions derived from RWG35 either had eliminated linkage drag or any negative effects were minor in nature. We recommend that breeders who wish to incorporate Sr47 into their cultivars should work exclusively with germplasm derived from RWG35.