Abstract
Spike-layer uniformity (SLU), the consistency of the spike distribution in the vertical space, is an important trait. It directly affects the yield potential and appearance. Revealing the genetic basis of SLU will provide new insights into wheat improvement. To map the SLU-related quantitative trait loci (QTL), 300 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that were derived from a cross between H461 and Chinese Spring were used in this study. The RILs and parents were tested in fields from two continuous years from two different pilots. Phenotypic analysis showed that H461 was more consistent in the vertical spatial distribution of the spike layer than in Chinese Spring. Based on inclusive composite interval mapping, four QTL were identified for SLU. There were two major QTL on chromosomes 2BL and 2DL and two minor QTL on chromosomes 1BS and 2BL that were identified. The additive effects of QSlu.sicau-1B, Qslu.sicau-2B-2, and QSlu.sicau-2D were all from the parent, H461. The major QTL, QSlu.sicau-2B-2 and QSlu.sicau-2D, were detected in each of the conducted trials. Based on the best linear unbiased prediction values, the two loci explained 23.97% and 15.98% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. Compared with previous studies, the two major loci were potentially novel and the two minor loci were overlapped. Based on the kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) marker, the genetic effects for QSlu.sicau-2B-2 were validated in an additional RIL population. The genetic effects ranged from 26.65% to 32.56%, with an average value of 30.40%. In addition, QSlu.sicau-2B-2 showed a significant (p < 0.01) and positive influence on the spike length, spikelet number, and thousand kernel weight. The identified QTL and the developed KASP marker will be helpful for fine-mapping these loci, finally contributing to wheat breeding programs in a marker-assisted selection way.
Highlights
Introduction iationsWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world, and it provides 20% of the global human population with calories [1,2]
The results revealed the great potential of wheat spike-layer improvement using the material H461
The wheat line H461 was more consistent in the vertical spatial distribution of the spike layer than Chinese Spring
Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world, and it provides 20% of the global human population with calories [1,2]. To feed the world’s growing population, an annual rate increase of 2.4% in wheat productivity is expected. As the current annual rate of 0.9% is well below expectations, it is urgent to increase wheat productivity. Breeding high-yield wheat cultivars is one of the most effective strategies to increase the total food production. Compared with conventional breeding methods, marker-assisted selection is an economic and efficient strategy to breed cultivars. Marker-assisted selection is a tool for breeders, allowing the possibility to select desirable traits more directly using DNA markers that are linked to genes/loci of interest [3]. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping can provide usable molecular markers that are linked to a gene of interest.
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