Development of wheat–alien translocation lines has facilitated practical utilization of alien species in wheat improvement. The production of a compensating Triticum aestivum-Thinopyrum bessarabicum whole arm Robertsonian translocation (RobT) involving chromosomes 6D of wheat and 6Eb of Th. bessarabicum (2n = 2x = 14, EbEb) through the mechanism of centric breakage-fusion is reported here. An F2 population was derived from plants double-monosomic for chromosome 6D and 6Eb from crosses between a DS6Eb(6D) substitution line and bread wheat cultivar Roushan (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) as female parent. Eighty F2 genotypes (L1 to L80) were screened for chromosome composition. Three PCR-based Landmark Unique Gene (PLUG) markers specific to chromosomes 6D and 6Eb were used for screening the F2 plants. One plant with a T6EbS.6DL centric fusion (RobT) was identified. A homozygous translocation line with full fertility was recovered among F3 families and verified with genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Grain micronutrient analysis showed that the DS6Eb(6D) substitution line and T6EbS.6DL stock have higher Fe and Zn contents than the recipient wheat cultivar Roushan.
