Gene expression analysis of four WIR1-like genes in floret tissues of European winter wheat after challenge with G. zeae

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a highly destructive disease of wheat and other cereals which causes serious mycotoxin contaminations of grain. A number of molecular mapping studies led to the detection of QTL with small to moderate effects on FHB resistance in European winter wheat. Genes involved in the defence reaction of these genotypes remain largely unknown. WIR1 (wheat induced resistance 1) genes have been shown to be upregulated in cereals during attack of various fungal pathogens; however, their role in resistance is ambiguous. In this study, the expression of three WIR1 genes and a gene with high sequence similarity to WIR1 was investigated in European winter wheat genotypes after inoculation with Giberella zeae. Floret tissues of four winter wheat genotypes (Dream, Lynx, G16-92, Hussar) were challenged with G. zeae conidia or water (control) and sampled six times during 0–96 h after inoculation. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that all four genes were highly upregulated in the resistant genotypes compared to the susceptible ones. WIR1b and a gene with sequence similarity to WIR1 genes mapped to chromosome 5DS in the G16-92/Hussar mapping population. Two genes annotated as WIR1a mapped in the interval of a FHB resistance QTL on chromosome 7BS in the Dream/Lynx mapping population. These could be considered possible candidate genes for quantitative FHB resistance.