Identification of Blast Resistance QTLs Based on Two Advanced Backcross Populations in Rice

Background Rice blast is an economically important and mutable disease of rice. Using host resistance gene to breed resistant varieties has been proven to be the most effective and economical method to control rice blast and new resistance genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) are then needed. Results In this study, we constructed two advanced backcross population to mapping blast resistance QTLs. CR071 and QingGuAi3 were as the donor parent to establish two BC3F1 and derived BC3F2 backcross population in the Jin23B background. By challenging the two populations with natural infection in 2011 and 2012, 16 and 13 blast resistance QTLs were identified in Jin23B/CR071 and Jin23B/QingGuAi3 population, respectively. Among Jin23B/CR071 population, 3 major and 13 minor QTLs have explained the phenotypic variation from 3.50% to 34.08% in 2 years. And, among Jin23B/QingGuAi3 population, 2 major and 11 minor QTLs have explained the phenotypic variation from 2.42% to 28.95% in 2 years. Conclusions Sixteen and thirteen blast resistance QTLs were identified in Jin23B/CR071 and Jin23B/QingGuAi3 population, respectively. QTL effect analyses suggested that major and minor QTLs interaction is the genetic basis for durable blast resistance in rice variety CR071 and QingGuAi3.


Introduction
Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food crop for more than 50% of the world's population. Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most serious diseases of rice in tropical and temperate areas of the world. Improving disease resistance in crops is crucial for stable food production. Nevertheless, using host resistance gene (R gene) to breed resistant varieties has been proven to be the most effective and economical method to control rice blast, and gene pyramiding is a promising method for providing broad-spectrum and durable resistance (Fukuoka et al. 2009;Liu et al. 2016;Tabien et al. 2002).
Although the use of race-specific resistance genes is a major strategy for disease control, these genes are vulnerable to counter evolution of pathogens. Consequently, most varieties lose their resistance after a few years because of new M. oryzae races. Many studies indicated that the genetic control of blast resistance is complex and involves both major and minor resistance genes with complementary or additive effects, as well as environmental interactions (Bonman 1992;Li et al. 2007;Li et al. 2011;Wang et al. 1994;Wu et al. 2005). New resistance genes are then needed, thus continuing a cycle referred to as an evolutionary "arms race" between crops and pathogens (Jones and Dangl. 2006). Quantitative trait loci, which usually have smaller individual effects than R genes but confer broad-spectrum or non-racespecific resistance, can contribute to durable disease resistance (Kou and Wang. 2010). Thus, the discovery and use of novel QTLs and development of broad-spectrum resistant varieties are urgent goals in breeding for blast resistance in rice.
Most blast resistance genes confer complete and racespecific resistances that the highly variable fungus can overcome the R gene effects within 2 or 3 years after planting ). The resistance conferred by R genes often do not support sustainable crop production. However, resistance controlled by partially effective resistance genes is often considered to be non racespecific and therefore durable. Durable resistance is the main goal of rice breeding, repeated observations generally suggest that cultivars carrying partial resistance maintain resistance for a long time, possibly because of decreased selection pressure upon the pathogen. CR071 and QingGuAi3 are indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar that has provided a high level of durable resistance to blast over past decades, and has been used as a donor of blast resistance in breeding in China. To understand the genetic mechanism of blast resistance in CR071 and QingGuAi3, two advanced backcross population BC 3 F 1 and derived BC 3 F 2 population from Jin23B/CR071 and Jin23B/QingGuAi3 were studied for blast response under conditions of natural infection. The objective was to find blast resistance loci in the donor parents and to explain the underlying mechanism of resistance. Such results should be useful for improving blast resistance in rice breeding.

Experimental Population
The blast resistant indica cultivar CR071 and Qing-GuAi3 which provided by the Enshi Academy of Agricultural Science, Hubei, China, were used as the donor parent. CR071 and QingGuAi3 were blast resistance varieties which have a high and durable resistance to rice blast since 1983 (Wu et al. 2001). The blast susceptible indica cultivar Jin23B, the maintainer line for several elite hybrids in China, was used as the recurrent parent. Two backcross populations derived from the cross between Jin23B and CR071 and between Jin23B and QingGuAi3 were generated according to the plan outlined in Fig. 1. After the first cross, the F 1 generations were backcross to Jin23B, then the BC 1 F 1 seeds were sown in a blast nursery in Xianfeng County, Hubei province, in 2010. Resistance plants identified by their leaf blast reactions were further backcrossed with the recurrent parent Jin23B, and BC 2 F 1 plants were obtained. The BC 2 F 1 seeds were sown in Hainan province in 2011 and were randomly crossed with Jin23B ( Fig. 1), two backcross population contained 239 and 237 plants, respectively were obtained. The BC 3 F 1 plants and parents were planted during the normal rice growing seasons (from mid-May to early October) at the experimental field of Xianfeng for phenotypic measurement in 2011 and selfed to produce BC 3 F 2 families. In 2012, the BC 3 F 2 families, each containing 12 plants, were grown in Xianfeng County for blast phenotyping. Selected lines in the BC 3 F 1 population were backcross to Jin23B to obtain BC 4 F 1 , and the self-cross seed of these BC 4 F 1 plants were used to develop BC 4 F 2 segregating population of each QTL. The BC 4 F 2 segregating populations of qBR3-3 and qBR6 from CR071 and qBR6 and qBR7-1 from QingGuAi3 were planted in 2013 in Xianfeng. Varieties BL6 and CO39 were used as resistant and susceptible control.

Trait Evaluations
All plants of the BC 3 F 1 population were scored for leaf blast response at tillering and heading stages and were recorded for neck blast at maturation stages in 2011; the three traits were named 11RT (leaf blast response of plants at tillering, 2011), 11RH (leaf blast response of the plants at heading, 2011) and 11RN (neck blast of the plants at maturation, 2011). The BC 3 F 2 populations were scored on an individual plant basis for leaf blast at tillering heading and for neck blast at the maturation stage, 2012, and results were named 12RT (leaf blast response of plants at tillering, 2012), 12RH (leaf blast response of plants at heading, 2012) and 12RN (neck blast of the plants at maturation, 2012). For the BC 3 F 2 families, 24 plants of each family were planted in two row, and the middle 20 plants were scored for blast response. The mean of each family was used as raw data for QTL analysis. Lines developing asynchronously at the normal tillering or heading stages were excluded so that all data would reflect the same developmental stages of the plants. The BC 4 F 2 segregation population were scored for leaf blast response at tillering stage in 2013. The most seriously diseased leaf of the top two or three new leaves was scored for each plant at each stage using the rating scale of Bonman et al. (1986), where 0 = no evidence of infection; 1 = brown specks smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter, no sporulation; 2 = brown specks about 0.5-1.0 mm in diameter, no sporulation; 3 = roundish to elliptical lesions, 1-3 mm in diameter, grey centre surrounded by brown margins, lesions capable of sporulation; 4 = typical spindle-shaped blast lesions capable of sporulation,3 mm or longer; 5 = lesions as in 4 but about half of one to two leaf blades killed by coalescence of lesions. Reaction types 0, 1, 2 and 3 were considered resistant, and 4 and 5 as susceptible (Das et al. 2012). Neck blast severity was recorded as a percentage of infection on the neck of rice panicle at physiological maturity stage. The number of panicles showing symptoms of neck blast was expressed as percent infection. Reaction types 0-25% were considered resistant, and 26%-100% as susceptible (Gao et al. 2008;IRRI 2002). To induce infection by the pathogen, diseased straw collected during the previous year was evenly dispersed in each plot and the highly susceptible variety; CO39, was planted on both sides of each row and around the experimental population. Field management essentially followed normal agricultural practices with the exception of no use of bactericides.

DNA Markers
Among 1032 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, 182 were polymorphic between Jin23B and CR071, and 161 were polymorphic between Jin23B and QingGuAi3, the level of polymorphism were 17.63% and 15.60%, respectively. A total of 145 and 113 polymorphic markers covering the whole rice genome were used to develop the genetic linkage map of Jin23B/CR071 and Jin23B/Qing-GuAi3 population. The RM marker series were searched in the available rice genomic database (http://www.gramene.org). Insertion/deletion markers were designed based on the references maps of Nipponbare and 9311. Genomic DNA was isolated from leaf tissues using the CTAB method. The SSR assay was performed with 4% urea polyacrylamide gels migration and silver staining as reported by Panaud et al. (1996).

Genetic Map Construction and QTL Analysis
A genetic linkage map was constructed using the Kosambi mapping function of MapMaker/Exp3.0 program (Lincoln et al. 1992). QTL analysis was performed by composite interval mapping (CIM) method using Windows QTL Cartographer 2.5 software ) with a logarithm of odds (LOD) threshold of 2.5.

Fig. 1 Strategy to develop mapping populations for blast resistance QTLs
Genotypes of the BC 3 F 1 population were determined using SSR markers. The resistance score and genotype of each plant in the BC 3 F 1 population were used for QTL analysis. For QTL detection of the BC 3 F 2 population, the mean of each BC 3 F 2 family was used as the row value and the genotypes of the BC 3 F 1 plants were used as the genotypes of the BC 3 F 2 families. Correlation analysis between six observation times in 2011 and in 2012 were examined by the Pearson correlation coefficient test. The resistance score of each plant in the BC 3 F 1 population were used for correlation analysis. The mean of each BC 3 F 2 family were used as the row value for correlation analysis. Data analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel 2003 or SPSS 17.0.

SSR Assay of Two Backcross Population
Two backcross populations derived from the cross between Jin23B and CR071 and between Jin23B and Qing-GuAi3 contained 239 and 237 plants, respectively. Genomic DNA was isolated from young leaves of seeding from each plant using the CTAB method. A total of 145 polymorphic SSR markers covering the whole rice genome between Jin23B and CR071, and 113 polymorphic SSR markers between Jin23B and QingGuAi3 were used to detect the genotype of each plant. Theoretically, 87.5% of the markers are Jin23B homozygous genotype of each individual plant in BC 3 F 1 population. In the Jin23B/CR071 background population, the marker ratio of Jin23B homozygous genotype of each plant were from 52.41% to 99.31%, most plants with a marker ratio in 90-100% (Fig.  S1). In the Jin23B/QingGuAi3 background population, the marker ratio of Jin23B homozygous genotype of each plant were from 51.33% to 94.69%, most plants with a marker ratio in 80-90% (Fig. S1).

Measurements and Relationship of the Traits
The receptor parent Jin23B is an indica variety with susceptible performance to rice blast, and the donor parents CR071 and QingGuAi3 with resistance performance to rice blast. The leaf blast resistance score of Jin23B were 4.17 and 4.11 at tillering stage, and 4.22 and 4.19 at heading stage in 2011 and 2012 respectively ( Table 1). The neck blast resistance of Jin23B were 91.7% and 93.7% in 2011 and 2012 respectively ( Table 1). The leaf blast resistance score of CR071 and QingGuAi3 were 0.83 and 1.06 at tillering stage in 2011, and 0.97 and 1.11 at tillering stage in 2012 (Table 1). The leaf blast resistance score of CR071 and QingGuAi3 were 1.00 and 1.14 at heading stage in 2011, and 1.00 and 1.19 at heading stage in 2012 (Table 1). For neck blast resistance, CR071 and QingGuAi3 were 3.33% and 6.67% in 2011, and 4.67% and 8.33% in 2012 (Table 1). The resistance score between CR071 and Jin23B, QingGuAi3 and Jin23B were significant different at the corresponding measurement stages (Table 1). The resistance control BL6 and susceptible control CO39 had leaf blast scores of 1.20 and 4.60 at tillering stage and 1.30 and 5.00 at heading stage in 2011. And those for neck blast of BL6 and CO39 at maturation stage were 10.11% and 96.53% in 2011, and 12.10% and 100% in 2012.
The distributions of lesion scores as measures of blast response at tillering and heading stages for leaf blast and maturation stage for neck blast for the BC 3 F 1 population in 2011 and BC 3 F 2 population in 2012 are shown in Fig. 2. There was transgressive segregation in both directions for all traits. The Pearson correlation coefficients showed significant correlation (p < 0.01) between all six traits in both years (Table S1; Table S2). Blast resistance of the BC 3 F 1 population at the tillering and heading stages in 2011 had a remarkable positive relationship with blast resistance of the BC 3 F 2 population at the heading and maturation stages in 2012 (p < 0.01). Resistance during different stages also exhibited significant relationships (p < 0.01). Leaf blast at the tillering and heading stages and neck blast at the maturation stage were significantly correlated with each other, so we were able to predict the neck blast response level according to the leaf blast response at tillering under natural condition.
Among the sixteen QTLs in the Jin23B/CR071 population, the gene effect of fifteen QTLs come from donor parent CR071, in contrast, the gene effect of qBR1 come from Jin23B. In the population, some plants have a transgressive segregation. Through analysis, we found that the QTL qBR1 has a negative effect. So the gene effect of qBR1 is from Jin23B, not CR071. The QTLs, qBR1, flanked by RM237 and RM486 on chromosome 1, was detected in both year for leaf blast and neck blast resistance and explained phenotypic variations of 6.09% in 12RT, 7.99% in 11RH, 7.25% in 12RH, 8.12% in 11RN and 9.48% in 12RN, respectively (Table 2). Two QTLs qBR2-3 and qBR8 were detected in both year for leaf blast and neck blast resistance; five QTLs qBR2-1, qBR2-2, qBR3-3, qBR6 and qBR12 were detected in both year for leaf blast at tillering and heading stages; eight QTLs qBR3-1, qBR3-2, qBR4, qBR7-1, qBR7-2, qBR11-1, qBR11-2 and qBR11-3 were detected only for neck blast in maturation stage.
Among the thirteen QTLs in the Jin23B/QingGuAi3 population, the gene effect of twelve QTLs come from donor parent QingGuAi3, in contrast, the gene effect of qBR12 come from Jin23B. The QTLs, qBR12, flanked by RM5927 and RM6296 on chromosome 12, was detected only in 2012 at maturation stage and explained phenotypic variations of 9.58% (Table 3). Three QTLs, qBR4-2, qBR6 and qBR7-1 were detected in both year at tillering and heading stages for leaf blast and maturation stage for neck blast; three QTL, qBR1-1, qBR11-1 and qBR11-2, were detected for leaf blast at tillering or heading stages; five QTLs, qBR1-2, qBR2, qBR3, qBR4-1 and qBR7-2 were detected for neck blast at maturation stage.
Validate the Genetic Effect of qBR3-3 and qBR6 from CR071 and qBR6 and qBR7-1 from QingGuAi3 The BC 4 F 2 segregation population of qBR3-3 and qBR6 from CR071 and qBR6 and qBR7-1 from QingGuAi3 were used to confirm the genetic effect of these QTLs. The qBR3-3 and qBR6 loci from CR071 increased blast resistance by 1.13 and 1.43, respectively, on leaf blast at tillering stage in 2013 (Fig. 5). The qBR6 and qBR7-1 loci from QingGuAi3 increased blast resistance by 1.70 and 0.83, respectively, on leaf blast at tillering stage in 2013 (Fig. 5).

Discussion
QTL mapping using advanced backcross population was proposed as an effective molecular breeding technique for incorporating valuable genes from exotic sources into an adapted background (Eizenga et al. 2013;Tanksley and Nelson 1996). With this method, QTL from the donor parents are detected by backcrossing with the adapted parent to eliminate most of the unwanted genes from the donor parent. In addition, using advanced backcross population can accelerate the crop improvement process because near-isogenic lines containing the desired QTL (genes) from the donor in the background of the recurrent parent can be selected from the advanced backcross population. Several studies have been performed to identify QTLs in advanced backcrossing. For example, Thomson et al. (2003) mapped quantitative trait loci for yield, yield components and morphological traits in rice using a BC 2 F 1 and BC 2 F 2 population by composite interval mapping and Windows QTL Cartographer 1.21. And Eizenga et al. (2013) mapped sheath blight and blast quantitative trait loci in two different advanced backcross populations. In our study, we developed two advanced backcross population with the objective of introgression of useful resistance genes from CR071 and QingGuAi3 into Jin23B. Using this strategy, we mapped 16 blast resistance QTLs from the Jin23B/ CR071 population and 13 blast resistance QTLs from the Jin23B/QingGuAi3 population. We also obtained maintainer lines resistant to blast in the background of Jin23B, which can be used for rice blast resistance breeding.
To date, over 100 blast resistant genes or QTLs have been identified (Su et al. 2015;Vasudevan et al. 2016;Xiao et al. 2017;Zheng et al. 2016). Among them, 37 genes have been cloned Wang et al. 2019;Zhao et al. 2018). Many of these resistance genes are clustered on rice chromosomes 6, 11 and 12. Notably, at least 11 resistance genes-including Pi2, Pi9, Piz, Pizt, Pigm, Pi22, Pi25, Pi26, Pi40, Pi42 and Pi50-are concentrated in the short-arm region near the centromere of chromosome 6. In this study, a QTL qBR6 located between RM539 and R19951 in the Jin23B/ CR071 population have a significant resistance to rice blast in both 2 years. When we further compared the position of this region to previous studies, we found that it contained Pi2, Pi9, Pigm, Pizt and Pi50, which are cloned blast resistance genes (Deng et al. 2017;Qu et al. 2006;Su et al. 2015;Zhou et al. 2006). QTL qBR6 located between L6ID3F and ZH6111 in the Jin23B/Qing-GuAi3 population was also overlapped the Pi2/Pi9 gene cluster on chromosome 6. Thus, qBR6 identified in two population may be the allele of Pi2, Pi9, Pigm, Pizt or Pi50.
QTLs qBR1 was located between RM237 and RM486 on chromosome 1 in the Jin23B/CR071 population, and the QTL qBR1-2 was located between RM297 and RM486 in the Jin23B/QingGuAi3 population, in this region, blast resistance gene Pi37, Pish and Pi35(t) had previously been reported (Lin et al. 2007;Nguyen et al. 2006;Takahashi et al. 2010). The blast resistance gene Pi37 and Pish have been cloned, which encode a NBS-LRR protein. Pi35(t) was identified in a QTL analysis of a population derived from the Japonica rice cultivar Hokkai 188 and the Indica rice cultivar Danghang-Shali. The resistance conferred by Pi35(t) to M. oryzae is classified as partial resistance (quantitative) rather than true resistance (qualitative). It is possible that qBR1 from Jin23B/CR071 population and qBR1-2 from Jin23B/ QingGuAi3 population are allelic to either Pi37, Pish or Pi35(t). QTLs qBR2-3 located between RM530 and RM213 on chromosome 2 in the Jin23B/CR071 population, was close to the cloned gene Pib (Wang et al. 1999). The neck blast resistance QTLs, qBR11-1, was located between RM21 and RM590 on chromosome 11 in the Jin23B/CR071 population, in this region, blast resistance gene Pikm, Pik-h and Pik-p had previously been reported (Ashikawa et al. 2008;Yuan et al. 2011;Zhai et al. 2014). It is possible that qBR11-1 is allelic to either Pikm, Pik-h or Pik-p. In the Jin23B/QingGuAi3 population, QTL qBR7-1 located between RM214 and RM5543 on chromosome 7 have a significant resistance to rice blast, in this region few gene have been reported, thus qBR7-1 may be a new gene.
Rice cultivars with durable blast resistance have been recognized in several production systems. The durable resistance of these cultivars is associated with polygenic partial resistance that shows no evidence of race specificity. This partial resistance is expressed as fewer and smaller lesions on the leaf blade but latent period does not appear to be an important component. Many blast resistant varieties with single resistance genes lose resistance after a few years; that is, they have or had nondurable resistance (Babujee and Gnanamanickam 2000). Varieties with durable resistance may contain more than one resistance gene (Zhu et al. 2012). Many studies have been performed to pyramid resistances gene into rice varieties. Hittalmani et al. (2000) pyramided three blast resistance genes Pi1, Piz-5 and Pita into rice variety CO39 and Jiang et al. (2012) pyramided three blast Fig. 5 Genetic effects of qBR3-3 and qBR6 from CR071 and qBR6 and qBR7-1 from QingGuAi3. Blue bar represent alleles from Jin23B, Green bar represent alleles from donor parent. P-value based on two-way t-test. Error bars are based on standard deviation of each genotype resistance genes Pi1, Pi2 and D12 into rice variety Jin23B. Their results confirmed that pyramiding of blast resistance genes is an effective way to develop highly resistant varieties. In our study, the donor parent CR071 and QingGuAi3 have a high level and durable resistance to blast over past decades, and have been used as donor parent for blast resistance in breeding in China. In the study, two advanced backcross population were constructed for analyses the genetic mechanism of blast resistance in CR071 and QingGuAi3, and major and minor blast resistance QTLs were identified in the donor parents. QTL effect analyses suggested that major and minor QTLs interaction is the genetic basis for durable blast resistance for CR071 and QingGuAi3 in the past decade in Wuling mountain area in China.

Additional Files
Additional File 1. Figure S1 Marker ratio of Jin23B homozygous genotype of each plant in two BC 3 F 1 background population. a, marker ratio of Jin23B homozygous genotype of each plant in Jin23B/CR071 background population. b, marker ratio of Jin23B homozygous genotype of each plant in Jin23B/QingGuAi3 background population.
Additional File 2. Table S1 The correlation between six traits in Jin23B/ CR071 background population Additional File 3. Table S2 The correlation detection between six traits in Jin23B/QingGuAi3 background population