The wheat sucrose synthase gene TaSus1 is a determinant of grain number per spike

Some haplotypes of the sucrose synthase gene TaSus1 are associated with thousand-grain weight(TGW)in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.).However,no mutations have been identified within the gene to test this association.The effects of TaSus1 on grain number per spike(GNS)also are largely unknown.Our previous genome-wide association study identified TaSus-A1 as a candidate gene controlling fertile spikelet number per spike(FSN).In the present study,we generated two independent mutants for the three TaSus1 homoeologs by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing.The triple mutants displayed lower FSN,GNS,grain number per spikelet(GNST),and TGW than wild-type plants.In 306 hexaploid wheat accessions,two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in TaSus-A1 contributed differently to GNS.Introgression of the two alleles into a wheat genetic background confirmed their effects.The alleles differed in geographical distribution among the accessions.

Inheritance and Availability of High Grain Number Per Spike in Two Wheat Germplasm Lines

Grain number per spike （GNPS） is a major factor in wheat yield breeding. The development of high GNPS germplasm is widely emphasized in wheat-yield breeding. This paper reported two high GNPS wheat germplasm lines, Pubing 3228 and Pubing 3504, which had a stable and wide adaptability to different ecological regions. By exploring a nested cross design with reciprocals using Pubing 3228 or Pubing 3504 as a common parent and investigating the GNPS phenotypes of F1 hybrids in 2007-2008 and F2 populations in 2008-2009 of different cross combinations, the narrow-sense GNPS heritability was up to 49.58 and 52.23%, respectively. Genetic model analysis predictions suggested that GNPS in Pubing 3228 and Pubing 3504 was mainly controlled by additive genetic effects. Correlation analysis results between GNPS and 1 000- kernel weight （TKW） of F2 populations showed that TKW was not influenced with the increase of GNPS. The good coordination among three yield components of spike number per plant （SNPP）, GNPS, and TKW in the F2 segregating population implied that selection of good candidate individuals in breeding programs would be relatively straightforward. Overall, our results indicated that Pubing 3228 and Pubing 3504 are two potential germplasm lines for yield improvement of GNPS in pedigree selection of wheat breeding.

Gene and protein expression profiling analysis of young spike development in large spike wheat germplasms

The wheat grain number per spike （GNPS） is a major yield-limiting factor in wheat-breeding programs. Germplasms with a high GNPS are therefore valuable for increasing wheat yield potential. To investigate the molecular characteristics of young spike development in large-spike wheat germplasms with high GNPS, we performed gene and protein expression profiling analysis with three high-GNPS wheat lines （Pubing 3228, Pubing 3504 and 4844-12） and one Iow-GNPS control variety （Fukuho）. The phenotypic data for the spikes in two growth seasons showed that the GNPS of the three large-spike wheat lines were significantly higher than that of the Fukuho control line. The Affymetrix wheat chip and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-tandam mass spectrometry （iTRAQ-MS/MS） technology were employed for gene and protein expression profiling analyses of young spike development, respectively, at the floret primordia differentiation stage. A total of 598 differentially expressed transcripts （270 up-regulated and 328 down-regulated） and 280 proteins （122 up- regulated and 158 down-regulated） were identified in the three high-GNPS lines compared with the control line. We found that the expression of some floral development-related genes, including Wknoxlb, the AP2 domain protein kinase and the transcription factor HUA2, were up-regulated in the high-GNPS lines. The expression of the SHEPHERD （SHD） gene was up-regulated at both the transcript and protein levels. Overall, these results suggest that multiple regulatory pathways, including the CLAVATA pathway and the meristem-maintaining KNOX protein pathway, take part in the development of the high-GNPS phenotype in our wheat germplasms.

Introgression of chromosome 6PL terminal segment from Agropyron cristatum to increase both grain number and grain weight in wheat

Agropyron cristatum(2n=4x=28,PPPP),which harbours many high-yield and disease-resistance genes,is a promising donor for wheat improvement.Narrow genetic diversity and the trade-off between grain weight and grain number have become bottlenecks for increasing grain yield in wheat.In this study,a novel translocation line,WAT650l,was derived from the chromosome 6P addition line 4844–12,which can simultaneously increase both grain number per spike(GNS)and thousand-grain weight(TGW).Cytological analysis and molecular marker analysis revealed that WAT650l was a 5BL.5BS-6PL(bin 12–17)translocation line.Assessment of agronomic traits and analysis of the BC4F2 and BC5F2 populations suggested that the 6PL terminal chromosome segment in WAT650l resulted in increased grain number per spike(average increased by 14.07 grains),thousand-grain weight(average increased by 4.31 g),flag leaf length,plant height,spikelet number per spike and kernel number per spikelet during the two growing seasons of 2020–2021 and 2021–2022.Additionally,the increased GNS locus and high-TGW locus of WAT650l were mapped to the bins 16–17 and 12–13,respectively,on chromosome 6PL by genetic population analysis of three translocation lines.In summary,we provide a valuable germplasm resource for broadening the genetic base of wheat and overcoming the negative relationship between GNS and TGW in wheat breeding.

Identification and validation of stable quantitative trait loci for yield component traits in wheat

Grain weight and grain number are important yield component traits in wheat and identification of underlying genetic loci is helpful for improving yield.Here,we identified eight stable quantitative trait loci(QTL)for yield component traits,including five loci for thousand grain weight(TGW)and three for grain number per spike(GNS)in a recombinant inbred line population derived from cross Yangxiaomai/Zhongyou 9507 across four environments.Since grain size is a major determinant of grain weight,we also mapped QTL for grain length(GL)and grain width(GW).QTGW.caas-2D,QTGW.caas-3B,QTGW.caas-5A and QTGW.caas-7A.2 for TGW co-located with those for grain size.QTGW.caas-2D also had a consistent genetic position with QGNS.caas-2D,suggesting that the pleiotropic locus is a modulator of trade-off effect between TGW and GNS.Sequencing and linkage mapping showed that TaGL3-5A and WAPO-A1 were candidate genes of QTGW.caas-5A and QTGW.caas-7A.2,respectively.We developed Kompetitive allele specific PCR(KASP)markers linked with the stable QTL for yield component traits and validated their genetic effects in a diverse panel of wheat cultivars from the Huang-Huai River Valley region.KASP-based genotyping analysis further revealed that the superior alleles of all stable QTL for TGW but not GNS were subject to positive selection,indicating that yield improvement in the region largely depends on increased TGW.Comparative analyses with previous studies showed that most of the QTL could be detected in different genetic backgrounds,and QTGW.caas-7A.1 is likely a new QTL.These findings provide not only valuable genetic information for yield improvement but also useful tools for marker-assisted selection.

Analysis of Influencing Factors on Yield of Seven Wheat Cultivars in Anhui Province

[Objective] The objective of this paper was to screen out suitable high- yielding cultivars and to understand the current yield performance of wheat in Anhui Province. In addition, the influencing factors on wheat yield were discussed to es- tablish suitable cultural practice. [Method] Main popularized cultivars and some new strains of wheat were selected as matedals and planted in the Funan Farm and Longkang Farm in 2009-2011. The yield stability and influencing factors on yield of wheat were discussed. [Resalt] In Anhui Province, the weather had a great influence on wheat yield, resulting in significant differences in wheat yield among different years. Drought was the main factor restricting the yield. [Conclusion] （1） It was easy to achieve high yield when the three influencing factors on wheat yield were coordi- nated. （2） The occurred drought disaster in 20tl was the main factor limiting the 1 000- grain weight and final yield of wheat. （3） Different cultivars showed different yield stabilities. Among the test wheat cultivars, two cultivars （Wanke 06290 and Yannong 19） showed good yield stability, while Xinfumai No.1 showed higher yield. （4） The three influencing factors played different roles in different cultivars. In the promotion process, the characteristics of wheat cultivars should be fully understood. To achieve high yield, integrating cultural practices is a necessity.