Genome wide genetic dissection of wheat quality and yield related traits and their relationship with grain shape and size traits in an elite × non-adapted bread wheat cross

Abstract

The genetic gain in yield and quality are two major targets of wheat breeding programs around the world. In this study, a high density genetic map consisting of 10,172 SNP markers identified a total of 43 genomic regions associated with three quality traits, three yield traits and two agronomic traits in hard red spring wheat (HRSW). When compared with six grain shape and size traits, the quality traits showed mostly independent genetic control (~18% common loci), while the yield traits showed moderate association (~53% common loci). Association of genomic regions for grain area (GA) and thousand-grain weight (TGW), with yield suggests that targeting an increase in GA may help enhancing wheat yield through an increase in TGW. Flour extraction (FE), although has a weak positive phenotypic association with grain shape and size, they do not share any common genetic loci. A major contributor to plant height was the Rht8 locus and the reduced height allele was associated with significant increase in grains per spike (GPS) and FE, and decrease in number of spikes per square meter and test weight. Stable loci were identified for almost all the traits. However, we could not find any QTL in the region of major known genes like GPC-B1, Ha, Rht-1, and Ppd-1. Epistasis also played an important role in the genetics of majority of the traits. In addition to enhancing our knowledge about the association of wheat quality and yield with grain shape and size, this study provides novel loci, genetic information and pre-breeding material (combining positive alleles from both parents) to enhance the cultivated gene pool in wheat germplasm. These resources are valuable in facilitating molecular breeding for wheat quality and yield improvement.

Mapping of Major Fusarium Head Blight Resistance from Canadian Wheat cv. AAC Tenacious

“…The phenotypic effect of a gene or QTL allele at a locus may vary in different genetic backgrounds because of epistatic interaction with other gene loci. This means that an apparently “favorable” QTL allele at a locus may show a “neutral” or “unfavorable” phenotype effect in a new genetic background [ 91 ]. An understanding of epistatic loci is vital for breeding wheat, since epistasis not only complicates the genotype–phenotype relationship, but also affects the rate of genetic gain [ 91 ].…”

Appraising the Genetic Architecture of Kernel Traits in Hexaploid Wheat Using GWAS

“…Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major staple food crops, which has an important role in achieving food security [50]. Therefore, improving kernel yield and related traits are consistently important tasks for genetic gain in this crop.…”

Prospects of GWAS and predictive breeding for European winter wheat’s grain protein content, grain starch content, and grain hardness

“…In addition to crop management practices, identification of trait-underlying loci is deemed a sustainable agricultural strategy to improve the genetic gains over time. For this purpose, several studies described quantitative trait loci (QTL) for GPC in bi-parental or diverse mapping populations in hexaploid 9 – 14 , tetraploid 15 – 18 , and hybrid wheat 19 – 21 . Little is, however, known about the genes determining the inheritance of GPC in wheat.…”