Abstract
BackgroundPrevious quantitative trait loci (QTLs) studies using the Avalon × Cadenza doubled haploid (DH) population identified eleven QTLs determining plant height, heading date and grain yield. The objectives of this study were: (i) to provide insight into the effects of these QTLs using reciprocal multiple near isogenic lines (NILs) with each pair of alleles compared in both parental backgrounds (Avalon or Cadenza), (ii) quantifying epistasis by looking at the background effects and (iii) predict favourable allelic combinations to develop superior genotypes adapted to a target environment.ResultsTo this aim, a library of 553 BC2 NILs and their recurrent parents were tested over two growing seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014). The results obtained in the present study validated the plant height, heading date and grain yield QTLs previously identified. Epistatic interactions were detected for the 6B QTL for plant height and heading date, 3A QTL for heading date and grain yield and 2A QTL for grain yield.ConclusionThe marker assisted backcrossing strategy used provided an efficient method of resolving QTL for key agronomic traits in wheat as Mendelian factors determining possible epistatic interactions. The study shows that these QTLs are amenable to marker assisted selection, fine mapping, future positional cloning, and physiological trait dissection.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-016-0849-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Previous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) studies using the Avalon × Cadenza doubled haploid (DH) population identified eleven QTLs determining plant height, heading date and grain yield
Plant Height (PH) components (ear length (EL), peduncle (PL) and internode lengths) and GRpsqm components (spikes/m2 (S), spikelet/spike (s/S) and grains/spikelet (G/S)) were only measured in 2013
Eleven QTLs for three agronomic traits (HD, PH and grain yield (GRYLD)) in the two genetic backgrounds of the biparental Avalon × Cadenza DH population, which were used for their discovery, were investigated using 553 BC2 near isogenic lines (NILs) and their recurrent parents in the field for two years
Summary
Previous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) studies using the Avalon × Cadenza doubled haploid (DH) population identified eleven QTLs determining plant height, heading date and grain yield. The major target in wheat breeding is grain yield (GRYLD). 10 main shoots were sampled from each plot for assessments of yield components including thousand grain weight (TGRWT), grain width (GRW), grain length (GRL) and grain area (GRA) using a Marvin digital seed analyser (GTA Sensorik GmbH). This was done by selecting an internal row from the plot and selecting a 60 cm section of this row that was judged to be representative of the whole plot Plants within this strip were cut to ground level and threshed so that the ration of grain yield to total above ground biomass could be calculated.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
