QTL Mapping for Drought Tolerance at Stages of Germination and Seedling in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Using a DH Population

Drought is a major constraint in many wheat( Triticum aestivum L.) production regions. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conditioning drought tolerance at stages of germination and seedling in wheat were identified in a double haploid (DH) population derived from the cross, Hanxuan10×Lumai14, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Interval mapping analysis revealed that QTLs for drought tolerance at germination stage were located on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 5A, 6B, 7A and 7B, respectively, and the most effective QTL was mapped on chromosome 2B, explaining 27.2% of phenotypic variance. The QTLs for drought tolerance at seedling stage were located on 1B, 3B and 7B, respectively, and the most effective QTL was mapped on chromosome 3B, explaining 21.6% of phenotypic variance. Their positions were different from those of QTLs conferring drought tolerance at germination stage, indicating that drought tolerance at germination stage and seedling stage was controlled by different loci. Most of the identified QTLs explained 18% or more of phenotypic variance for drought tolerance at germination and seedling stage, and would be useful in future for marker assisted selection programs and cultivar improvement.

Polyamine oxidase 3 is involved in salt tolerance at the germination stage in rice

Soil salinity inhibits seed germination and reduces seedling survival rate,resulting in significant yield reductions in crops.Here,we report the identification of a polyamine oxidase,OsPAO3,conferring salt tolerance at the germination stage in rice(Oryza sativa L.),through map-based cloning approach.OsPAO3 is up-regulated under salt stress at the germination stage and highly expressed in various organs.Overexpression of OsPAO3 increases activity of polyamine oxidases,enhancing the polyamine content in seed coleoptiles.Increased polyamine may lead to the enhance of the activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes to eliminate over-accumulated H;O;and to reduce Na;content in seed coleoptiles to maintain ion homeostasis and weaken Na;damage.These changes resulted in stronger salt tolerance at the germination stage in rice.Our findings not only provide a unique gene for breeding new salt-tolerant rice cultivars but also help to elucidate the mechanism of salt tolerance in rice.

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.

Integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome reveals seed germination mechanism in Punica granatum L.

We conducted an integrative system biology of metabolome and transcriptome profile analyses during pomegranate(Punica granatum L.) seed germination and utilized a weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA) to describe the functionality and complexity of the physiological and morphogenetic processes as well as gene expression and metabolic differences during seed germination stages. In total, 489 metabolites were detected, including 40 differentially accumulated metabolites. The transcriptomic analysis showed the expression of 6 984 genes changed significantly throughout the whole germination process. Using WGCNA, we identified modules related to the various seed germination stages and hub genes. In the initial imbibition stage(stage 1), the pivotal genes involved in RNA transduction and the glycolytic pathway were most active, while in the sprouting stage(stage 4), the pivotal genes were involved in multiple metabolic pathways. In terms of secondary metabolic pathways, we found flavonoid 4-reductase genes of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway are most significantly affected during pomegranate seed germination, while the flavonol synthase gene was mainly involved in the regulation of isoflavonoid biosynthesis.

Identification and Evaluation of Cold Tolerance in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) at Bud and Seedling Stages under Different Temperature Conditions

[ Objectives] This study was conducted to screen the temperature index most suitable for identification of cold tolerance in bitter gourd （Momordica charantia L. ） at bud and seedling stages. [ Methods] With six different bitter gourd germplasms as experimental materials, the cold tolerance at bud and seedling stages were identified and evaluated. [ Results] At 18℃ , the largest change range of germination potential among different gernlplasms was 11.3% -96.0%, and the largest change range of germination rate was 13.3% - 100.0% ; and the six germplasms could be divided into three grades of cold tolerance. Therefore, 18 9C is an ideal temperature for the identification of cold tolerance in bitter gourd germplasms at bud stage. At 20℃, the cold tolerance in bitter gourd germplasms at bud stage could also be divided into three grades, and the change ranges of germination potential and germination rate were larger than 50.0%, so 20℃ could serve as the candidate temperature for the identification of cold tolerance in bitter gourd germplasms at bud stage. After 1 d of treatment at 6℃, the six bitter gourd germplasms could be divided into three grades, and the cold injury index had the largest range of 20.31 - 84.38 and could serve as the temperature index for the identification of cold tolerance in bitter gourd at seedling stage. [ Conclusions] This study will provide reference for the identification of cold tolerance in bitter gourd at bud stage and seedling stage.

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.