Introgression of QTL from Aegilops tauschii enhances yield-related traits in common wheat

To break the narrow diversity bottleneck of the wheat D genome, a set of Aegilops tauschii-wheat introgression(A-WI) lines was developed by crossing Ae. tauschii accession T015 with common wheat elite cultivar Zhoumai 18(Zhou18). A high-density genetic map was constructed based on Single Nucleotide Polymorphism(SNP) markers and 15 yield-related traits were evaluated in 11 environments for detecting quantitative trait loci(QTL). A total of 27 environmentally stable QTL were identified in at least five environments, 20 of which were derived from Ae. tauschii T015, explaining up to 24.27% of the phenotypic variations. The major QTL for kernel length(KL), QKl-2D.5, was delimited to a physical interval of approximately 2.6 Mb harboring 52 candidate genes. Three Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR(KASP)markers were successfully developed based on nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations of candidate gene AetT093_2Dv1G100900.1 and showed that A-WI lines with the T015 haplotype had significantly longer KL than the Zhou18 haplotype across all 11 environments. Four primary valuable A-WIs with good trait performance and carrying yield-related QTL were selected for breeding improvement. The results will facilitate the efficient transfer of beneficial genes from Ae. tauschii into wheat cultivars to improve wheat yield and other traits.

Genome-wide association study exposed the pleiotropic genes for yield-related and oil quality traits in Brassica napus L.

Oilseed rape(Brassica napus L.) is an allotetraploid(AACC,2n=38) crop,valued for its edible oil and protein content.seed yield and nutritional composition of rapeseed are influenced by its yield and oil quality traits.However,the genetic basis of yield-related and oil-quality traits remain ambiguous.A panel of 266 diversified oilseed rape accessions was genotyped using 223 simple sequence repeat(SSR) markers covering all 19 chromosomes to identify significant markers associated with yield and quality traits.Twelve yield-related and six quality traits were investigated in two consecutive years(2014 and 2015),with three replications in two environments(Changshun,CS;and Qinghe,QH).Using the model GLM with population structure and kinship(Q+K),a total of 25 significant SSR markers(P <0.001) were detected to be associated with these twelve yield-related and six quality traits,explaining 4.56%-19.17% of the phenotypic variation for each trait.Based on these markers,BnaA03g23490D, BnaC09g46370D,BnaA07g37150D,BnaA01g32590D, and BnaC09g37280D were identified as pleiotropic genes controlling multiple traits.These candidate genes illustrated the potential for the genetic understanding of yield and oil quality traits.Most importantly,these significant markers can be used for marker-assisted breeding of oilseed rape in different environments.

Identification of QTLs for Yield-Related Traits in the Recombinant Inbred Line Population Derived from the Cross Between a Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat-Derived Variety Chuanmai 42 and a Chinese Elite Variety Chuannong 16

Synthetic hexaploid wheat （SHW） represents a valuable source of new resistances to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. A recombinant inbred line （RIL） population with 127 recombinant inbred lines derived from a SHW-derived variety Chuanmai 42 crossing with a Chinese spring wheat variety Chuannong 16 was used to map QTLs for agronomic traits including grain yield, grains per square meter, thousand-kernel weight, spikes per square meter, grain number per spike, grains weight per spike, and biomass yield. The population was genotyped using 184 simple-sequence repeat （SSR） markers and 34 sequence-related amplified polymorphism （SRAP） markers. Of 76 QTLs （LOD〉2.5） identified, 42 were found to have a positive effect from Chuanmai 42. The QTL QGy.saas-4D.2 associated with grain yield on chromosome 4D was detected in four of the six environments and the combined analysis, and the mean yield, across six environments, of individuals carrying the Chuanmai 42 allele at this locus was 8.9% higher than that of those lines carrying the Chuannong 16 allele. Seven clusters of the yield-coincident QTLs were detected on 1A, 4A, 3B, 5B, 4D, and 7D.

Yield-related agronomic traits evaluation for hybrid wheat and relations of ethylene and polyamines biosynthesis to filling at the mid-grain filling stage

Because of the yield increase of 3.5-15%compared to conventional wheat,hybrid wheat is considered to be one of the main ways to greatly improve the wheat yield in the future.In this study,we performed a principal component analysis(PCA)on two-line hybrids wheat and their parents using the grain weight(GW),the length of spike(LS),the kernel number of spike(KSN),and spike number(SPN)as variables.The results showed that the variables could be classifed into three main factors,the weight factor(factor 1),the quantity factor 1(factor 2)and the quantity factor 2(factor 3),which accounted for 37.1,22.6 and 18.5%,respectively of the total variance in different agronomic variables,suggesting that the GW is an important indicator for evaluating hybrid combinations,and the grain weight of restorer line(RGW)could be used as a reference for parents selection.The hybrid combination with a higher score in factor 1 direction and larger mid-parent heterosis(MPH)of the GW and its parents were used to carry out the analysis of grain fling,1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylicacid(ACC)and polyamine synthesis related genes.The results suggested that the GW of superior grain was significantly higher than that of inferior grains in BS1453xJS1(H)and its parents.Both grain types showed a weight of H between BS 1453(M)and JS1(R),and a larger MPH,which may be caused by their differences in the active fling stage and the grain fling rate.The ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase(AGPase),granule bound starch synthase I(GBSS/),starch synthaseⅡ(SSS),and starch branching enzyme-Ⅰ(SBE-1)expression levels of H were intermediated between M and R,which might be closely related to MPH formation of the GW.Compared with R and H,the GW of M at maturity was the lowest.The expression levels of spermidine synthase 2(Spd2),ornithine decarboxylase(ODC)and S adenosylmethionine decarboxylase(SAMDC)had significantly positive correlations with the grain flig rate(1=0.77,0.51,0.59"),suggesting their major roles in the grain flling and heterosis formation.These provide a theoretical basis for improving the GW of photo-thermo-sensitive male sterile lines(PTSMSL)by changing the endogenous polyamine synthesis in commercial applications.

Detection of Favorable Alleles for Quality- and Yield-related Traits in Wheat Using a Backcross Population

Development of wheat varieties with high yield and good quality has been a major objective in wheat breeding.A BC 1 F 2-3 population was used to detect QTLs for wheat quality related traits: SDS-sedimentation value (Ssd),grain protein content (GPC),grain hardness (GH) and 11 mixograph parameters,as well as five agronomic traits: spike length (SL),spikelet number per spike (SPN),grain number per spike (GN),thousand-grain weight (TGW),and plant height (PH).A total of 44 putative QTLs were detected in the present study,31 for quality parameters and 13 for important agronomic traits,including three important major QTLs.One major QTL for Ssd QSsd.saas-1B.1,linked to barc137,explained on average 21.1% of the phenotypic variation in three environments.The allele increasing Ssd at this locus also significantly increased GN.The second locus on chromosome 1B with the linked marker Barc 61 was a major locus for mixograph parameters.It explained 21.3%-32.5%,24.3%-30.6%,30.6%-37% and 20.1%-22.7% of phenotypic variation for mixing tolerance (MT),weakening slope (WS),midline peak time (MPTi) and midline time x =8 value (MTxW),respectively.The third major QTL,explaining above 40% of plant height variation,close to Rht-B 1 on the short arm of chromosome 4BS,co-located with QTL for quality and yield-related traits.

Correlation Analysis and Path Analysis between Yield and Yield-Related Traits of Yunmai 52

[Objective] This study was tween yield-related traits and yield of conducted to understand the relationship be- Yunmai 52 which is a high-quality high-yield multi-resistant new wheat variety, and make contribution of yield-related traits to the yield of Yunmai 52 clear. [Method] Wheat variety regional trial data in Yunnan Province in 2005-2007 were subjected to correlation analysis and path analysis in the paper. [Result] Correlationanalysis showed that the yield of Yunmai 52 was in- very significant positive correlation with spikelet number per ear, maximum tiller number and grains per ear （r=0.726^＊＊, 0.717^＊＊ and 0.695^＊＊, respectively）, in signif- icant positive correlation with 1 000-grain weight （r=0.491^＊）, but in significant nega- tive correlation with sterile spikelet number per ear, and in non-significant correlation with basic seedlings, effective ears and percentage of ear bearing tillers. Partial correlation analysis showed that the yield of Yunmai 52 was in very significant posi- tive correlation with spikelet number per ear （r=0.711^＊＊）, significant positive correla- tion with 1 000-grain weight （r=0.641 =）, but in non-significant correlation with other 6 traits. Path analysis showed that spikelet number per ear （P=-0.595）, maximum tiller number （P=0.462） and t 000-grain weight （P=0.263） had more contribution to yield of Yunmai 52. [Conclusion] Therefore, in extension and application of Yunmal 52 that is a high-quality high-yield multi-resistant new wheat variety, supply of fertilizer and water should be increased in tillering stage and jointing stage, to ensure its characteristics of high tilledng ability and large ear, as well as high 1 000-grain weight, and coordinated development of other yield-related traits is beneficial to im- provement of yield of Yunmai 52.

Genome-wide association and linkage mapping strategies reveal the genetic loci and candidate genes of important agronomic traits in Sichuan wheat

Increasing wheat yield is a long-term goal for wheat breeders around the world.Exploiting elite genetic resources and dissecting the genetic basis of important agronomic traits in wheat are the necessary methods for high-yield wheat breeding.This study evaluated nine crucial agronomic traits found in a natural population of 156 wheat varieties and77 landraces from Sichuan,China in seven environments over two years.The results of this investigation of agronomic traits showed that the landraces had more tillers and higher kernel numbers per spike (KNS),while the breeding varieties had higher thousand-kernel weight (TKW) and kernel weight per spike (KWS).The generalized heritability (H2) values of the nine agronomic traits varied from 0.74 to 0.95.Structure analysis suggested that the natural population could be divided into three groups using 43 198 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from the wheat 55K SNP chip.A total of 67 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified by the genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis based on the Q+K method of a mixed linear model.Three important QTLs were analyzed in this study.Four haplotypes of QFTN.sicau-7BL.1 for fertile tillers number (FTN),three haplotypes of QKNS.sicau-1AL.2 for KNS,and four haplotypes of QTKW.sicau-3BS.1 for TKW were detected.FTN-Hap2,KNS-Hap1,and TKW-Hap2 were excellent haplotypes for each QTL based on the yield performance of 42 varieties in regional trials from 2002 to 2013.The varieties with all three haplotypes showed the highest yield compared to those with either two haplotypes or one haplotype.In addition,the KASP-AX-108866053 marker of QTL QKNS.sicau-1AL.2 was successfully distinguished between three haplotypes(or alleles) in 63 varieties based on the number of kernels per spike in regional trials between 2018 and 2021.These genetic loci and reliable makers can be applied in marker-assisted selection or map-based gene cloning for the genetic improvement of wheat yield.

Genetic architecture of quantitative trait loci(QTL)for FHB resistance and agronomic traits in a hard winter wheat population

Wheat resistance to Fusarium head blight(FHB)has often been associated with some undesirable agronomic traits.To study the relationship between wheat FHB resistance and agronomic traits,we constructed a linkage map of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)using an F6:8 population from G97252WG97380A.The two hard winter wheat parents showed contrasts in FHB resistance,plant height(HT),heading date(HD),spike length(SL),spike compactness(SC),kernel number per spike(KNS),spikelet number per spike(SNS),thousand-grain weight(TGW)and grain size(length and width).Quantitative trait locus(QTL)mapping identified one major QTL(QFhb.hwwg-2DS)on chromosome arm 2DS for the percentage of symptomatic spikelets(PSS)in the spike,deoxynivalenol(DON)content and Fusarium damaged kernel(FDK).This QTL explained up to 71.8%of the phenotypic variation for the three FHB-related traits and overlapped with the major QTL for HT,HD,SL,KNS,SNS,TGW,and grain size.QTL on chromosome arms 2AL,2DS,3AL and 4BS were significant for the spike and grain traits measured.G97252W contributed FHB resistance and high SNS alleles at QFhb.hwwg-2DS,high KNS alleles at the QTL on 2AL and 2DS,and high TGW and grain size alleles at QTL on 3AL;whereas G97380A contributed high TGW and grain size alleles at the QTL on 2AL and 2DS,respectively,and the high KNS allele at the 4BS QTL.Combining QFhb.hwwg-2DS with positive alleles for spike and grain traits from other chromosomes may simultaneously improve FHB resistance and grain yield in new cultivars.

Response of phenology- and yield-related traits of maize to elevated temperature in a temperate region

Extreme high temperatures detrimental to maize production are projected to occur more frequently with future climate change.Phenology and yield-related traits were investigated under several levels of elevated temperature in two early-maturing hybrid cultivars:Junda 6(grown in northeastern China)and Chalok 1(grown in South Korea).They were cultivated in plastic houses in Suwon,Korea(37.27°N,126.99°E)held at target temperatures of ambient(AT),AT+1.5°C,AT+3°C,and AT+5°C at one sowing date in 2013 and three different sowing dates in 2014.Vegetative and reproductive growth durations showed variation depending on sowing date,experimental year,and cultivar.Growth duration tended to decrease,but not necessarily,with temperature elevation,but somewhat increased again above a certain temperature.High temperature-dependent variation was greater during grain filling than in the vegetative period before anthesis.Elevated temperature showed no significant effects on duration or peak dates of silking and anthesis,and thus on anthesis–silking interval.Grain yield tended to decrease with temperature elevation above ambient,showing a sharper linear decrease with mean growing season temperature increase in Junda 6 than in Chalok 1.The decrease in kernel number accounted for a much greater contribution to the yield reductions due to temperature elevation than did the decrease in individual kernel weight in both cultivars.Individual harvestable kernel weight was not significantly affected by temperature elevation treatments.Kernel number showed a linear decrease with mean growth temperature from early ear formation to early grain-filling stage,with Junda 6 showing a much severer decrease than Chalok 1.Kernel number reduction due to temperature elevation was attributable more to the decrease in differentiated ovule number than to the decrease in kernel set in Chalok 1,but largely to the decrease of kernel set in Junda 6.

Association mapping and domestication analysis to dissect genetic improvement process of upland cotton yield-related traits in China

Background: Cotton fiber yield is a complex trait,which can be influenced by multiple agronomic traits.Unravelling the genetic basis of cotton fiber yield-related traits contributes to genetic improvement of cotton.Results: In this study,503 upland cotton varieties covering the four breeding stages(BS1–BS4,1911–2011)in China were used for association mapping and domestication analysis.One hundred and forty SSR markers significantly associated with ten fiber yield-related traits were identified,among which,29 markers showed an increasing trend contribution to cotton yield-related traits from BS1 to BS4,and 26 markers showed decreased trend effect.Four favorable alleles of 9 major loci(R^(2)≥3)were strongly selected during the breeding stages,and the candidate genes of the four strongly selected alleles were predicated according to the gene function annotation and tissue expression data.Conclusions :The study not only uncovers the genetic basis of 10 cotton yield-related traits but also provides genetic evidence for cotton improvement during the cotton breeding process in China.

Identifying Genomic Regions Conferring Morphological and Yield-related Traits in Soybean Based On A Four-way Recombinant Inbred Line Population

Improvement of seed yield of soybean(Glycine max(L.)Merr.)is generally achieved by combining morphological and yield-related traits,such as plant height(PH),node number on main stem(NN),pod number per plant(NP),seed number per plant(NS),100-seed weight(HSW)and seed weight per plant(SWPP).Identifying quantitative trait loci(QTLs)for morphological and yield-related traits is therefore important for breeding.In this study,a four-way recombinant inbred line population comprising 160 lines derived from the cross(Kenfeng14×Kenfeng15)×(Heinong48×Kenfeng19)was planted in five different environments and morphological and yield-related trait data were used to identify QTLs by the inclusive composite interval mapping method.Totally 38 QTLs for PH,40 QTLs for NN,26 QTLs for NP,10 QTLs for NS,26 QTLs for HSW and 49 QTLs for SWPP were detected in 125 genomic regions.Single QTLs explained 2.17%-14.60%,2.00%-10.04%,2.37%-9.77%,2.62%-8.61%,0.47%-6.51%and 0.14%-12.39%of the phenotypic variation for PH,NN,NP,NS,HSW and SWPP,respectively.Among these 125 genomic regions,120 were newly associated with morphological and yield-related traits.The results would facilitate the molecular breeding of morphological and yield-related traits in soybean.

Improvement for Agronomic Traits of Partial Waxy Wheat by Combination of Backcrossing with a PCR-based DNA Marker

To improve agronomic traits of partial waxy wheat, crossing between Chinese Baihuomai and wheat cultivars PH85-16, Jinan 17, and Yannong 15 was performed. The progeny plants were further backcrossed to these cultivars as recurrent parents for five generations. To get homozygous plants with the null allele at the Wx-D1 locus, self-pollination was carried out in the BC5F1 generation. Through another three generations, 6 partial waxy wheat lines were obtained, which had similar agronomic performance as their recurrent parents and carried the null allele at the Wx-D1 locus. In each generation, the Wx-D1 locus was identified by a PCR-based DNA marker and the agronomic traits were examined in progeny plants. The results from this study indicate that the use of backcrossing with a PCR-based DNA marker was useful in waxy wheat breeding. These partial waxy wheat lines can be used in field production.

Correlation between Carotenoids Content and Several Quality Traits of Wheat Varieties

A total of 31 wheat varieties（lines） released in different years in Huanghuai Area were selected as materials so as to study the carotenoids content,lipoxygenase activity, and some other quality traits of wholemeal. Results showed that carotenoid content and other quality traits had highly significant differences among varieties. Carotenoids content was significantly positive correlated with watersoluble pentosan and yellowness. Carotenoids content was significantly negative correlated with peak viscosity, hold through, breakdown, final viscosity, unit weight,formation time, and was negative correlated with peak time, protein content and stability time. According to cluster analysis, carotenoid contents in 31 varieties were divided into three major groups： one group had common carotenoid content, which included 19 varieties such as Meng 0318; one group had relatively low carotenoid content, which included 10 varieties such as Luomai23; and the last group had relatively high carotenoid content, which included 2 varieties such as Huaimai22. The average carotenoid contents of the three groups were 1.93, 1.07 and 2.99 mg/kg respectively.

Dissection of two QTL clusters underlying yield-related heterosis in the cabbage founder parent 01–20

Cabbage has significant heterosis and most commercial cultivars are hybrids.To explore genetic basis of cabbage heterosis and promote cabbage heterosis utilization,we constructed two populations by crossing 100 DH lines derived from a cabbage hybrid 01–20×96–100 with two female parents.Hybrids exhibited different extents of heterosis,the mean value of economic yield was 2.6 times bigger than parents.We identified 66 and 73 QTLs associated with mid-parent heterosis and transgressive heterosis of twelve yield-related traits,respectively.Some QTLs could be detected under the two-year experiment existed in two populations with different testers,showing relatively high phenotypic contribution rate(15.8%–20.0%).Heterosis QTLs exhibited clustered distribution in several cabbage chromosome regions.Two dominant genetic regions,mk300–316 and mk258–268,originated from the elite parent 01–20,exhibited significant genetic effects for yield-related heterosis,which were first identified.Three elite DH lines(D22,D46,D83)harboring these two dominant regions were selected as having strong heterosis in cabbage production.Candidate gene analysis revealed that some genes participating in biosynthetic processes of carbohydrates and some responses to auxin might affect cabbage yield heterosis.QTL identification and genetic dissection of yield-related traits provide new insights into the genetic effects of cabbage heterosis.

Characterization and mapping of QTLs on chromosome 2D for grain size and yield traits using a mutant line induced by EMS in wheat

Production of mutants with altered phenotypes is a powerful approach for determining the biological functions of genes in an organism. In this study, a high-grain-weight mutant line M8008 was identified from a library of mutants of the common wheat cultivar YN15 treated with ethylmethane sulfonate(EMS). F2 and F2:3generations produced from crosses of M8008 × YN15(MY) and M8008 × SJZ54(MS) were used for genetic analysis. There were significant differences between M8008 and YN15 in plant height(PH), spike length(SL),fertile spikelet number per spike(FSS), grain width(GW), grain length(GL), GL/GW ratio(GLW), and thousand-grain weight(TGW). Most simple correlation coefficients were significant for the investigated traits, suggesting that the correlative mutations occurred in M8008. Approximately 21% of simple sequence repeat(SSR) markers showed polymorphisms between M8008 and YN15, indicating that EMS can induce a large number of mutated loci. Twelve quantitative trait loci(QTLs) forming QTL clusters(one in MY and two in MS) were detected. The QTL clusters coinciding with(MY population) or near(MS population) the marker wmc41 were associated mainly with grain-size traits, among which the M8008 locus led to decreases in GW, factor form density(FFD), and TGW and to increases in GLW. The cluster in the wmc25–barc168 interval in the MS population was associated with yield traits, for which the M8008 locus led to decreased PH, spike number per plant(SN), and SL.

Identification of QTLs Conferring Agronomic and Quality Traits in Hexaploid Wheat

The availability of elite germplasm resources with high yield and quality potentials is very important for development of cultivars in wheat. Thus, seeking such resources has been the continuous effort of breeder community. In this study, genetic analysis of a novel resource, Triticum spelta line CSCR6, from Australia was made by use of a recombination inbred line （RIL） population of 82 individuals from the cross between CSCR6 and another Australian hexaploid wheat cultivar, Lang. Data of a multiple environmental test was employed to genetically dissect quantitative trait loci （QTL） for agronomic traits such as plant height （PH）, spike length （SL）, spikelet per spike （SPI）, grain number per spike （GNS） and thousand grains weight （TGW） and for quality traits including grain protein content （GPC）, gluten content （GC）, grain hardness （GH）, falling number （FN） and sedimentation value （SV）. A 24 QTLs with additive effects were detected for all the investigated traits, and were located on chromosomes 1B, 1D, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4B, 5A, 5B, 7A, and 7B, respectively. Some QTLs located on 2B and 4B showed higher explanation of phenotypic variances and were not obviously interacted with environment. A QTL in the marker interval of wPT-5334-wPT-4918 （near the locus barc 0199） on 4B gave the highest contribution ratio of 30.76% on PH, while Qgpc-4B and Qgc-4B gave 13.07 and 14.70% contribution ratio on GPC and GC, respectively. Qph-2B, Qgns-2B, and Qgpc-2B showed 13.36, 10.00, and 10.79% contribution ratio on PH, GNS and GPC, respectively. Also, a QTL on 5A, Qsl- 5A, could explain 25.12% of phenotypic variance on SL. For most of agronomic and quality traits, CSCR6 alleles produced increase effects. The fact that a number of loci affecting the investigated traits were detected in T. spelta line CSCR6 revealed that it could offer a new opportunity for the manipulation of these traits in wheat breeding programs.

Effect of HMW-GS 6 + 8 and 1.5 + 10 from Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat on Wheat Quality Traits

To determine the effect of 6 ＋ 8 and 1.5 ＋ 10 HMW-GS of synthetic hexaploid wheat （SHW） on main quality parameters of wheat, a set of recombinant inbred lines （RILs） derived from the cross between a SHW with N, 6 ＋ 8, 1.5 ＋ 10 HMW-GS and a cultivar Chuanyu 12-1 （CY 12-1） with 1, 7 ＋ 8, 2 ＋ 12 were planted in three environments in 2005 and 2006 and totally 16 quality parameters were tested for each line. Significant differences in all tested quality parameters but flour yield were observed between the two parents. The mean values of the RILs were intermediate to the parents for grain and protein parameters and some farinograph parameters, flour water absorption （FWA）, and farinograph softening （SOF） but beyond parents at dough stability time （DST）, breakdown time （BRT）, quality number （QN）, noodle score （NS）, and loaf volume （LOV）. All of the quality traits, especially in grain hardness （GH）, zeleny sedimentation volume （SED）, and most of farinograph parameters had significant difference between the different HMW-GS components. The effects of different alleles of HMW-GS at same locus （Glu-A1 or Glu-B1 or GIu-D1） on the different quality parameters were also different and affected by the other two loci. For most of parameters tested, 6 ＋ 8 was better than 7 ＋ 8 and there was no difference between 1.5 ＋ 10 and 2 ＋ 12. End-use quality was greatly influenced by components of HMW-GS. The components of 1, 6 ＋ 8, 1.5 ＋ 10 had the highest LOV and bread score （BS） values, whereas the components of 1, 7＋ 8 and 1.5 ＋ 10 had the highest NS values. Noodle score performed a positive linear relationship with falling number （FN） and its relationships to other quality parameters were affected by environments. Loaf volume had a significant negative relationship to SOF and positive associations with most of quality parameters. It could be concluded that HMW-GS 6＋ 8 from SHW had better overall quality characteristics than 7 ＋ 8, whereas the effects of 1.5 ＋ 10 on quality was different in respect to quality parameters and the HMW-GS components. Synthetic hexaploid wheat with subunits 6 ＋ 8 and 1.5 ＋ 10 had the potentials to improve the end-use quality of wheat cultivars.

QTL Mapping for Important Agronomic Traits in Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat Derived from Aegiliops tauschii ssp. tauschii

Aegiliops tauschii is classified into two subspecies： Ae. tauschii ssp. tauschii and Ae. tauschii ssp. strangulata. Novel genetic variations exist in Ae. tauschii ssp. tauschii that can be utilized in wheat improvement. We synthesized a hexaploid wheat genotype（SHW-L1） by crossing an Ae. tauschii ssp. tauschii accession（AS60） with a tetraploid wheat genotype（AS2255）. A population consisting of 171 F8 recombinant inbred lines was developed from SHW-L1 and Chuanmai 32 to identify QTLs associated with agronomic traits. A new genetic map with high density was constructed and used to detect the QTLs for heading date, kernel width, spike length, spikelet number, and thousand kernel weight. A total of 30 putative QTLs were identified for five investigated traits. Thirteen QTLs were located on D genomes of SHW-L1, six of them showed positive effect on agronomic traits. Chromosome region flanked by wPt-6133–wPt-8134 on 2D carried five environment-independent QTLs. Each QTL accounted for more than 10% phenotypic variance. These QTLs were highly consistent across environments and should be used in wheat breeding.

Growth traits and nitrogen assimilation-associated physiological parameters of wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) under low and high N conditions

In this study, 14 wheat cultivars with contrasting yield and N use efficiency （NUE） were used to investigate the agronomic and NUE-related traits, and the N assimilation-associated enzyme activities under low and high N conditions. Under deficient-N, the cultivars with high N uptake efficiency （UpE） and high N utilization efficiency （UtE） exhibited higher plant biomass, yields, and N contents than those with medium and low NUEs. The high UpE cultivars accumulated more N than other NUE type cultivars. Under sufficient-N, the tested cultivars showed similar patterns in biomass, yield, and N content to those under deficient-N, but the varietal variations in above traits were smaller. In addition, the high UpE cultivars displayed much more of root biomass and larger of root length, surface area, and volume than other NUE type cultivars, indicating that the root morphological traits under N deprivation are closely associated with the plant biomass through its improvement of the N acquisition. The high UtE cultivars showed higher activities of nitrate reductase （NR）, nitrite reductase （NIR）, and gluta- mine synthetase （GS） at stages of seediling, heading and filling than other NUE type cultivars under both low and high N conditions. Moreover, the high UpE and UtE cultivars also displayed higher photosynthetic rate under deficient-N than the medium and low NUE cultivars. Together, our results indicated that the tested wheat cultivars possess dramatically genetic variations in biomass, yield, and NUE. The root morphological traits and the N assimilation enzymatic acitivities play critical roles in regulating N accumulation and internal N translocation under the N-starvation stress, respectively. They can be used as morphological and biochemical references for evaluation of UpE and UtE in wheat.

Quantitative trait loci analysis for root traits in synthetic hexaploid wheat under drought stress conditions

Synthetic hexaploid wheat(SHW),possesses numerous genes for drought that can help breeding for drought-tolerant wheat varieties.We evaluated 10 root traits at seedling stage in 111 F9 recombinant inbred lines derived from a F2 population of a SHW line(SHW-L1)and a common wheat line,under normal(NC)and polyethylene glycol-simulated drought stress conditions(DC).We mapped quantitative trait loci(QTLs)for root traits using an enriched high-density genetic map containing 120370 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs),733 diversity arrays technology markers(DArT)and 119 simple sequence repeats(SSRs).With four replicates per treatment,we identified 19 QTLs for root traits under NC and DC,and 12 of them could be consistently detected with three or four replicates.Two novel QTLs for root fresh weight and root diameter under NC explained 9 and 15.7%of the phenotypic variation respectively,and six novel QTLs for root fresh weight,the ratio of root water loss,total root surface area,number of root tips,and number of root forks under DC explained 8.5–14%of the phenotypic variation.Here seven of eight novel QTLs could be consistently detected with more than three replicates.Results provide essential information for fine-mapping QTLs related to drought tolerance that will facilitate breeding drought-tolerant wheat cultivars.