Abstract
Micronutrient and protein malnutrition is recognized among the major global health issues. Genetic biofortification is a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to tackle malnutrition. Genomic regions governing grain iron concentration (GFeC), grain zinc concentration (GZnC), grain protein content (GPC), and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were investigated in a set of 163 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between cultivated wheat variety WH542 and a synthetic derivative (Triticum dicoccon PI94624/Aegilops tauschii [409]//BCN). The RIL population was genotyped using 100 simple-sequence repeat (SSR) and 736 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and phenotyped in six environments. The constructed genetic map had a total genetic length of 7,057 cM. A total of 21 novel quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified in 13 chromosomes representing all three genomes of wheat. The trait-wise highest number of QTL was identified for GPC (10 QTL), followed by GZnC (six QTL), GFeC (three QTL), and TKW (two QTL). Four novel stable QTL (QGFe.iari-7D.1, QGFe.iari-7D.2, QGPC.iari-7D.2, and QTkw.iari-7D) were identified in two or more environments. Two novel pleiotropic genomic regions falling between Xgwm350–AX-94958668 and Xwmc550–Xgwm350 in chromosome 7D harboring co-localized QTL governing two or more traits were also identified. The identified novel QTL, particularly stable and co-localized QTL, will be validated to estimate their effects on different genetic backgrounds for subsequent use in marker-assisted selection (MAS). Best QTL combinations were identified by the estimation of additive effects of the stable QTL for GFeC, GZnC, and GPC. A total of 11 RILs (eight for GZnC and three for GPC) having favorable QTL combinations identified in this study can be used as potential donors to develop bread wheat varieties with enhanced micronutrients and protein.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum spp.) is a major staple cereal crop contributing about 20% calories to the diet and at least 30% of Fe and Zn intake worldwide
Parents were contrasting for all the studied traits and P2 was superior over P1 with 43, 31, 26, and 23%, respectively, for GFeC, grain zinc concentration (GZnC), grain protein content (GPC), and thousand kernel weight (TKW)
The lowest pooled heritability was observed for GZnC (0.77), whereas, highest pooled heritability was recorded for TKW (0.91)
Summary
Wheat (Triticum spp.) is a major staple cereal crop contributing about 20% calories to the diet and at least 30% of Fe and Zn intake worldwide. Even though it has the highest levels of micronutrients among the three major cereals viz., wheat, rice, and maize, most wheat-based diets fail to deliver the required quantity of essential nutrients, such as iron and zinc. Around 25% of the global population is affected by anemia because of Fe deficiency [2], and the leading risk groups for this global public health concern are children 0–5 years of age, and pregnant and lactating women. Anemic complex due to severe iron deficiency leads to several lifethreatening diseases, namely, chronic kidney and heart failure, and inflammatory bowel disease [3]
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