Expression profiling identifies differentially expressed genes associated with the fusarium head blight resistance QTL 2DL from the wheat variety Wuhan-1

•The 2DL QTL suppresses fungal infection in spikelets and spreading to the rachis of wheat heads.•Transcript profiling showed changes in expression for 487 probe sets between a 2DL+ and a null sister lines.•Expression of 27 differential transcripts was further tested by RT-qPCR on two pairs of lines.•8 candidate genes with expression associated with + or − 2DL QTL were identified.

To better understand the contribution of the quantitative fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance locus, 2DL QTL from Wuhan-1, we have characterized two pairs of sister lines carrying either the 2DL QTL or no known QTLs. In wheat spikes, our visual and microscopic observations suggested that the 2DL QTL suppress fungal infection in inoculated spikelets and reduce spread from spikelets to rachis. Transcriptome profiling of infected spikelets showed changes in expression for 487 probe sets between the 2DL-carrying and the null lines. Of 27 transcripts selected for validation, eight candidate genes with similar expression profiles between the two pair of lines were identified.