Abstract
The aim of the present study was to dissect the genetic inheritance and interplay of root, shoot and heading attributes for a better understanding of these traits in crop production. For this, we utilized quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate gene analysis approach using a second filial (F2) population originated from a cross between spring cultivar Cheri and wild barley accession ICB181160. The F2 population comprising 182 plants was phenotyped for root dry weight (RDW), root volume (RV), root length (RL) and shoot dry weight (SDW), tiller number per plant (TIL) and days to heading (HEA). In parallel, this population was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers distributed across the whole genome. Marker by trait analysis revealed 16 QTL for root and shoot traits localized on chromosomes 1H, 3H, 4H, 5H and 7H. The strongest and a common QTL effect for root, shoot and heading traits was identified on chromosome 7H at the putative region of Vrn-H3 gene. Later, we have established PCR based gene specific marker HvVrnH3 revealing polymorphism for early heading Vrn-H3 allele in Cheri and late heading allele vrn-H3 in ICB181160. Genotyping of these alleles revealed a clear co-segregation of early heading Vrn-H3 allele with lower root and shoot attributes, while late heading vrn-H3 allele with more TIL and higher root biomass suggesting a primary insight on the function of Vrn-H3 gene beyond flowering. Genetic interactions of vernalization genes Vrn-H3 with Vrn-H2 and Vrn-H1 also suggested the major role of Vrn-H3 alleles in determining root and shoot trait variations in barley. We believe, these data provide an opportunity for further research to test a precise significance of early heading on yield components and root associated sustainability in crops like barley and wheat.
Highlights
Land plants show polar development by which root and shoot are established during ontogeny
The F2 population comprising 182 plants was phenotyped for root dry weight (RDW), root volume (RV), root length (RL) and shoot dry weight (SDW), tiller number per plant (TIL) and days to heading (HEA)
quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis reveals a common and major QTL on 7HS chromosome for SDW, RDW and RV and HAE at the putative region of Vrn-H3 gene. To confirm if this common QTL effect was due to Vrn-H3 gene, we developed a gene specific cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker (HvVrn-H3) from the previously described single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that showed the polymorphism between the early heading allele Vrn-H3 and late allele vrn-H3 and genotyped the F2 population and parental genotypes
Summary
Land plants show polar development by which root and shoot are established during ontogeny. The role of a number of genes (like Vrn-H3, orthologous to Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T) which facilitate the transition of vegetative to reproductive development have been described in barley Most of these data are primarily focusing the modulation of spring and winter type growth habits and early heading [9,10,11,12]. Their broader role in plant development (root and shoot development) remain fragmented especially in major agricultural crops like wheat and barley where more tillers and fibrous-deeper rooting are the major determinants of yield, water use efficiency and sustainability
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