Genomic selection with genome-wide distributed molecular markers has evolved into a well-implemented tool in many breeding programs during the last decade. The resistance against Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat is probably one of the most thoroughly studied systems within this framework. Aside from the genome, other biological strata like the transcriptome have likewise shown some potential in predictive breeding strategies but have not yet been investigated for the FHB-wheat pathosystem. The aims of this study were thus to compare the potential of genomic with transcriptomic prediction, and to assess the merit of blending incomplete transcriptomic with complete genomic data by the single-step method. A substantial advantage of gene expression data over molecular markers has been observed for the prediction of FHB resistance in the studied diversity panel of breeding lines and released cultivars. An increase in prediction ability was likewise found for the single-step predictions, although this can mostly be attributed to an increased accuracy among the RNA-sequenced genotypes. The usage of transcriptomics can thus be seen as a complement to already established predictive breeding pipelines with pedigree and genomic data, particularly when more cost-efficient multiplexing techniques for RNA-sequencing will become more accessible in the future.

中文翻译：

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结合基因组学和转录组学预测小麦赤霉病抗性

在过去的十年中，使用全基因组分布的分子标记进行基因组选择已发展成为许多育种计划中实施良好的工具。小麦对镰刀菌赤霉病 (FHB) 的抗性可能是该框架内研究最彻底的系统之一。除了基因组外，转录组等其他生物层在预测育种策略中也显示出一些潜力，但尚未针对 FHB-小麦病理系统进行研究。因此，本研究的目的是比较基因组与转录组预测的潜力，并评估通过一步方法将不完整转录组与完整基因组数据混合的优点。在所研究的育种品系和已发布品种的多样性面板中，已经观察到基因表达数据相对于分子标记的显着优势，可用于预测 FHB 抗性。同样发现单步预测的预测能力有所提高，尽管这主要归因于 RNA 测序基因型之间准确性的提高。因此，转录组学的使用可以被视为对已经建立的具有谱系和基因组数据的预测育种管道的补充，特别是当未来更容易获得更具成本效益的 RNA 测序复用技术时。尽管这主要归因于 RNA 测序基因型之间准确性的提高。因此，转录组学的使用可以被视为对已经建立的具有谱系和基因组数据的预测育种管道的补充，特别是当未来更容易获得更具成本效益的 RNA 测序复用技术时。尽管这主要归因于 RNA 测序基因型之间准确性的提高。因此，转录组学的使用可以被视为对已经建立的具有谱系和基因组数据的预测育种管道的补充，特别是当未来更容易获得更具成本效益的 RNA 测序复用技术时。