Molecular markers for and quality assessment of near isogenic palmiet and SST66 wheat lines for Pmeudocercosporella herpotrichoides (eyespot) resistance

English: 1. The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of the Pch 1 gene, has an effect on breadmaking quality and yield in two genetic backgrounds, to find a molecular marker linked to the gene, using the AFLP technique and to look at the protein profiles for the NIL's and their recurrent parents. 2. Seed from near-isogenic resistant Palmiet and SST66 lines were obtained from the ARC-SGI in Bethlehem. ANOVA's showed that the presence of the gene had no significant effect on yield. 3. Baking quality tests were done at the SGI-ARC in Bethlehem to study the effect of the gene on the quality traits. The results showed no significant differences occurred between the susceptible parents and the resistant progeny lines with regard to wheat quality. 4. The HMW-GS, LMW-GS and gliadin banding patterns for the different lines were also studied. The results obtained showed that the HMW-GS were inadequate to distinguish between NIL's, while the LMW-GS and the gliadins gave effective distinction between the lines. Further analyses are needed to determine the effects of the subunits on the baking quality. 5. Using the AFLP technique we were able to detect possible markers between the susceptible parent lines and the bulked resistant progeny. Further tests are needed to determine the degree of linkage between the possible markers and the Pch1 gene.