Key messageQTL controlling flag leaf length, flag leaf width, flag leaf area and flag leaf angle were mapped in wheat.AbstractThis study aimed to advance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying morphological traits of the flag leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from ND3331 and the Tibetan semi-wild wheat Zang1817 was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling flag leaf length (FLL), flag leaf width (FLW), flag leaf area (FLA), and flag leaf angle (FLANG). Using an available simple sequence repeat genetic linkage map, 23 putative QTLs for FLL, FLW, FLA, and FLANG were detected on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4B, 5A, 6B, 7B, and 7D. Individual QTL explained 4.3–68.52% of the phenotypic variance in different environments. Four QTLs for FLL, two for FLW, four for FLA, and five for FLANG were detected in at least two environments. Positive alleles of 17 QTLs for flag leaf-related traits originated from ND3331 and 6 originated from Zang1817. QTLs with pleiotropic effects or multiple linked QTL were also identified on chromosomes 1B, 4B, and 5A; these are potential target regions for fine-mapping and marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding programs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00122-017-3040-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The phenomenon of degenerated spikelets is very common in cereal crops, and considered as a serious physiological defect to grain production. However, little is known about the genetic base of the spikelet degeneration in rice. To identify genetic factors conferring spikelet degeneration in rice, a line showing severe degenerated spikelets on the top of panicle was selected from a set of chromosomal segment substitution lines that derived from a cross of the sequenced japonica variety ÔNipponbareÕ and the indica variety Ô9311Õ. Using its derived progeny, two quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the degenerated spikelets were identified on chromosomes 3 and 9. The one on chromosome 3 was confirmed in an about 600-kb physical interval, and had an epistatic interaction with the other QTL on chromosome 9. The QTL region on chromosome 3 was also found conferring primary panicle length, heading date, the number of primary branches and second branches simultaneously. These results would be helpful in understanding the genetic control of spikelet degeneration on the top of panicle in rice.

Background and Aims Plant invasions can change soil microbial communities and affect subsequent invasions directly or indirectly via foliar herbivory. It has been proposed that invaders promote uniform biotic communities that displace diverse, spatially variable communities (“Biotic Homogenization Hypothesis”), but this has not been experimentally tested for soil microbial communities, so the underlying mechanisms and dynamics are unclear. Here, we compared density-dependent impacts of the invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides and its native congener A. sessilis on soil fungal communities, and their feedback effects on plants and a foliar beetle. Methods We conducted a plant-soil feedback (PSF) experiment and a lab bioassay to examine PSFs associated with the native and invasive plants and a beetle feeding on them. We also characterized the soil fungal community using high-throughput sequencing. Key Results We found locally differentiated soil fungal pathogen assemblages associated with high densities of the native plant Alternanthera sessilis but little variation in those associated with the invasive congener A. philoxeroides, regardless of plant density. In contrast, AM fungal assemblages associated with high densities of the invasive plant were more variable. Soil biota decreased plant shoot mass but their effect was weak for the invasive plant growing in native plant conditioned soils. PSFs increased the larval biomass of a beetle reared on leaves of the native plant only. Moreover, PSFs on plant shoot, root and beetle mass were predicted by different pathogen taxa in a plant species-specific manner. Conclusion Our results suggest that plant invasions can rapidly increase the similarity of soil pathogen assemblages even at low plant densities leading to taxonomically and functionally homogeneous soil communities that may limit negative soil effects on invasive plants.

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