Analysis of morphological traits and regulatory mechanism of a semi-dwarf, albino, and blue grain wheat line

Abstract

Plant height and leaf color are important agronomic traits in crops, since they contribute to the production of grains and biomass. Progress has been made mapping the genes that regulate plant height and leaf color in wheat and other crops. We created the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) line DW-B (Dwar ng, White leaves and Blue grains) with semi-dwar ng and albinism at the tillering stage and re-greening at the jointing stage using Lango and Indian Blue Grain. Transcriptomic analyses of the three wheat lines at the early jointing stages indicated that the genes of gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway and chlorophyll biosynthesis were expressed differently in DW-B and its parents. The results of measurement of the response of GA and chlorophyll contents showed differences between DW-B and its parents. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of plant height and leaf color.