Mapping QTL for spike fertility and related traits in two doubled haploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) populations

Nicole Pretini,Fernanda G González,Leonardo S Vanzetti,Ignacio I Terrile,Guillermo Donaire

doi:10.1186/s12870-021-03061-y

Abstract

BackgroundIn breeding programs, the selection of cultivars with the highest yield potential consisted in the selection of the yield per se, which resulted in cultivars with higher grains per spike (GN) and occasionally increased grain weight (GW) (main numerical components of the yield). In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for GW, GN and spike fertility traits related to GN determination were mapped using two doubled haploid (DH) populations (Baguette Premium 11 × BioINTA 2002 and Baguette 19 × BioINTA 2002).ResultsIn total 305 QTL were identified for 14 traits, out of which 12 QTL were identified in more than three environments and explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variation in at least one environment. Eight hotspot regions were detected on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 3A, 5A, 5B, 7A and 7B in which at least two major and stable QTL sheared confidence intervals. QTL on two of these regions (R5A.1 and R5A.2) have previously been described, but the other six regions are novel.ConclusionsBased on the pleiotropic analysis within a robust physiological model we conclude that two hotspot genomic regions (R5A.1 and R5A.2) together with the QGW.perg-6B are of high relevance to be used in marker assisted selection in order to improve the spike yield potential. All the QTL identified for the spike related traits are the first step to search for their candidate genes, which will allow their better manipulation in the future.

Highlights

IntroductionThe selection of cultivars with the highest yield potential consisted in the selection of the yield per se, which resulted in cultivars with higher grains per spike (GN) and occasionally increased grain weight (GW) (main numerical components of the yield)
In breeding programs, the selection of cultivars with the highest yield potential consisted in the selection of the yield per se, which resulted in cultivars with higher grains per spike (GN) and occasionally increased grain weight (GW)
Genetic linkage map construction The linkage map of BP11xB2002 consisted of 7,323 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and two functional markers for the vernalization genes Vrn-A1 [73] and Vrn-B1 [74] (Tables S2, S3)

Summary

Introduction

The selection of cultivars with the highest yield potential consisted in the selection of the yield per se, which resulted in cultivars with higher grains per spike (GN) and occasionally increased grain weight (GW) (main numerical components of the yield). Wheat breeding of yield potential has been based on empirical selection of yield per se due to the complexity of the character, the scarcity of knowledge and the lack of useful tools with real applicability in breeding programs [7]. This selection generally resulted in more grains per spike (GN), and increased grains per unit area (no consistent trend in spikes per unit area has been reported) [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. The identification, understanding and incorporation of yield related QTL could be a useful selection tool for a breeding program

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Conclusion