Abstract
Micronutrient deficiencies, and especially zinc (Zn) deficiency, pose serious health problems to people who mainly depend on cereal-based diets. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to detect the genetic basis of the Zn accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains with a diversity panel of 207 bread wheat varieties. To uncover authentic quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling Zn accumulation, the varieties were planted in three locations. In total, 29 unique loci associated with Zn grain accumulation were identified. Notably, seven non-redundant loci located on chromosomes 1B, 3B, 3D, 4A, 5A, 5B, and 7A, were detected at least in two environments. Of these quantitative trait loci (QTL), six coincided with known QTL or genes, whereas the highest effect QTL on chromosome 3D identified in this study was not reported previously. Searches of public databases revealed that the seven identified QTL coincided with seven putative candidate genes linked to Zn accumulation. Among these seven genes, NAC domain-containing protein gene (TraesCS3D02G078500) linked with the most significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) AX-94729264 on chromosome 3D was relevant to metal accumulation in wheat grains. Results of this study provide new insights into the genetic architecture of Zn accumulation in wheat grains.
Highlights
Over two billion of the world’s population suffer from diseases associated with mineral and essential vitamin deficiencies [1,2,3]
After genome-wide association study (GWAS), the DNA sequence flanking the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers significantly associated with Zn accumulation, were analyzed against the “International Wheat Genome Sequence Consortium (IWGSC) RefSeq v1.0” using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) in NCBI databases with default parameters
The results obtained from the GWAS analysis conducted in the present study provide an overview on the genomic regions involved in Zn grain accumulation in a wheat diversity panel
Summary
Over two billion of the world’s population suffer from diseases associated with mineral and essential vitamin deficiencies [1,2,3]. Zinc plays an essential role on the structural stability of certain proteins, such as transcription factors containing Zn-finger domains, and deficiency of this mineral might result in significant reduction in crop yields and quality [12] Both plants and humans require an optimum intake of zinc for their normal physiological and biochemical activity. Because of the central role that wheat has in human nutrition, wheat biofortification could serve as a cost-effective and efficient strategy to alleviate Zn deficiencies, especially in low income countries where the majority of people rely on a cereal-based diet [15,16,17] For this reason, improving zinc accumulation in wheat grains is an important target for wheat breeding. Results of this study could contribute to the development of strategies to improve the nutritional quality of wheat
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
