QTLs for Waterlogging Tolerance at Germination and Seedling Stages in Population of Recombinant Inbred Lines Derived from a Cross Between Synthetic and Cultivated Wheat Genotypes

Waterlogging is a widespread limiting factor for wheat production throughout the world. To identify quantitative trait loci （QTLs） associated with waterlogging tolerance at early stages of growth, survival rate （SR）, germination rate index （GRI）, leaf chlorophyll content index （CCI）, root length index （RLI）, plant height index （PHI）, root dry weight index （RDWI）, shoot dry weight index （SDWI）, and total dry weight index （DWI） were assessed using the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative （ITMI） population W7984/Opata85. Significant and positive correlations were detected for all traits in this population except RLI. A total of 32 QTLs were associated with waterlogging tolerance on all chromosomes except 3A, 3D, 4B, 5A, 5D, 6A, and 6D. Some of the QTLs explained large proportions of the phenotypic variance. One of these is the QTL for GRI on 7A, which explained 23.92% of the phenotypic variation. Of them, 22 alleles from the synthetic hexaploid wheat W7984 contributed positively. These results suggested that synthetic hexaploid wheat W7984 is an important genetic resource for waterlogging tolerance in wheat. These alleles conferring waterlogging tolerance at early stages of growth in wheat could be utilized in wheat breeding for improving waterlogging tolerance.

Genome-wide Association Analysis of Ten Chilling Tolerance Indices at the Germination and Seedling Stages in Maize

Maize seedlings are very sensitive to chilling, especially during the transition phase from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth. Genetic dissection of the genetic basis of chilling tolerance would provide useful information for genetic improvement of maize inbreds. In this study, genome-wide association analysis was conducted to explore the genetic architecture of maize chilling tolerance at the seed germination and seedling stages with an association panel of 125 inbreds. Ten tolerance indices （ratios of the performance of 10 germination rates and seedling growth-related traits under chilling stress and control conditions） were investigated to assess the ability of chilling tolerance of the inbreds, and a total of 43 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with chilling tolerance were detected, with none of them being related to chilling tolerance at both the germination and seedling stages simultaneously. Correlation analysis also revealed that the genetic basis of chilling tolerance at the seed germination stage is generally different from that at the seedling stage. In addition, a total of 40 candidate genes involving 31 of the 43 single nucleotide polymorphisms were predicted, and were grouped into five categories according to their functions. The possible roles of these candidate genes in chilling tolerance were also discussed.