Comparative mapping of genes for glume colouration and pubescence in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Microsatellite markers were used to map the major genes Bg (determining black glume colour), Rg1 and Rg3 (red glume), and a locus determining smokey-grey coloured glume to the distal ends of the short arms of the homoeologous group 1 chromosomes, proximally (or closely linked) to Xgwm1223 and distal to Xgwm0033. On this basis, we propose that these genes represent a set of homoeoloci, designated Rg-A1, Rg-B1, and Rg-D1. Rg3 and Bg appear to be variant alleles of Rg-A1. Both Rg3 and Bg are closely linked with the major glume pubescence gene Hg. Similarly, the hexaploid wheat smokey-grey glume gene and Rg2 represent alleles at Rg-D1. The microsatellite markers linked to the Rg genes were used to analyse a phenotypically and genotypically characterized set of Siberian spring wheats. A coincidence between the presence of the 264-bp allele of Xgwm0136 and Rg-A1b (Rg3) was observed; so Xgwm0136 can probably be used as a diagnostic marker for this gene.