Development and characterization of wheat–Aegilops kotschyi 1U^(k)(1A)substitution line with positive dough quality parameters

Exploring novel high molecular weight glutenin subunits(HMW-GSs)from wild related species is a strategy to improve wheat processing quality.The objective of the present investigation was to identify the chromosomes of the wheatalien introgression line N124,derived from the hybridization between Triticum aestivum with Aegilops kotschyi,and characterize the effects on quality-related traits.Fluorescence in situ hybridization karyotypes showed that N124 is a disomic 1U^(k)(1A)substitution line.Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)and reversedphase high-performance liquid chromatography verified N124 expressed two HMW-GSs of the Ae.kotschyi parent.PacBio RNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the two HMW-GSs were U^(k)x and U^(k)y.Compared to the wheat parent,the substitution line had no obvious agronomic defects except fewer grains per spike but improved several major quality parameters.It can be served as a donor or bridge material for wheat quality improvement.

Genetic architecture of maize yield traits dissected by QTL mapping and GWAS in maize

The study of yield traits can reveal the genetic architecture of grain yield for improving maize production.In this study, an association panel comprising 362 inbred lines and a recombinant inbred line population derived from X178 × 9782 were used to identify candidate genes for nine yield traits. High-priority overlap(HPO) genes, which are genes prioritized in a genome-wide association study(GWAS), were investigated using coexpression networks. The GWAS identified 51 environmentally stable SNPs in two environments and 36 pleiotropic SNPs, including three SNPs with both attributes. Seven hotspots containing 41 trait-associated SNPs were identified on six chromosomes by permutation. Pyramiding of superior alleles showed a highly positive effect on all traits, and the phenotypic values of ear diameter and ear weight consistently corresponded with the number of superior alleles in tropical and temperate germplasm. A total of 61 HPO genes were detected after trait-associated SNPs were combined with the coexpression networks. Linkage mapping identified 16 environmentally stable and 16 pleiotropic QTL.Seven SNPs that were located in QTL intervals were assigned as consensus SNPs for the yield traits.Among the candidate genes predicted by our study, some genes were confirmed to function in seed development. The gene Zm00001 d016656 encoding a serine/threonine protein kinase was associated with five different traits across multiple environments. Some genes were uniquely expressed in specific tissues and at certain stages of seed development. These findings will provide genetic information and resources for molecular breeding of maize grain yield.

Haplotype-based phylogenetic analysis and population genomics uncover the origin and domestication of sweetpotato

The hexaploid sweetpotato(lpomoea batatas)is one of the most important root crops worldwide.However,its genetic origin remains controversial,and its domestication history remains unknown.In this study,we used a range of genetic evidence and a newly developed haplotype-based phylogenetic analysis to identify two probable progenitors of sweetpotato.The diploid progenitor was likely closely related to lpomoea ae-quatoriensis and contributed the B,subgenome,IbT-DNA2,and the lineage 1 type of chloroplast genome to sweetpotato.The tetraploid progenitor of sweetpotato was most likely l.batatas 4x,which donated the B2 subgenome,IbT-DNA1,and the lineage 2 type of chloroplast genome.Sweetpotato most likely originated from reciprocal crosses between the diploid and tetraploid progenitors,followed by a subsequent whole-genome duplication.In addition,we detected biased gene exchanges between the subgenomes;the rate of B,to B2 subgenome conversions was nearly three times higher than that of B2 to B subgenome conver-sions.Our analyses revealed that genes involved in storage root formation,maintenance of genome stabil-ity,biotic resistance,sugar transport,and potassium uptake were selected during the speciation and domestication of sweetpotato.This study sheds light on the evolution of sweetpotato and paves the way forimprovementofthiscrop.