Genome-wide association study of alkylresorcinols content in 161 wheat cultivars

Abstract

Alkylresorcinols (ARs), a group of phenolic lipids exclusively found in wheat, rye and barley among daily foods, are considered to be biomarkers for whole wheat grain intake. Recent studies have gradually revealed their functions and benefits for human health. However, the natural variation of ARs contents (ARC) in bread wheat cultivars in China has not been revealed. This study assayed grain ARC in a panel of 161 wheat cultivars grown in five environments in China and reports significant genotypic and environmental variation. Grain ARC ranged from 321 to 972 μg/g. Cultivars such as Yumai 18 and Yumai 2 had high ARC and thousand kernel weight (TKW) and can be utilized for production of ARs-fortified foods and as parents for breeding. Genome-wide association analysis with high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays identified 24 and 32 stable loci associated with total ARC and thousand kernel ARC (TKAC), respectively. Loci on chromosome arms 3BL and 7BL, were significant for both ARC and TKAC. This study firstly revealed the extensive variation and genetic architecture of ARC in Chinese bread wheat, providing a theoretical basis for future high-ARC genetic improvement.