A co-located QTL for seven spike architecture-related traits shows promising breeding use potential in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-023-04536-2

Theoretical and Applied Genetics,Volume 137, article number31, (2024)

Jieguang Zhou,Qian Liu,Rong Tian,Huangxin Chen,Jian Wang,Yaoyao Yang,Conghao Zhao,Yanlin Liu,Huaping Tang,Mei Deng,Qiang Xu,Qiantao Jiang,Guoyue Chen,Pengfei Qi,Yunfeng Jiang,Guangdeng Chen,Liwei Tang,Yong Ren,Zhi Zheng,Chunji Liu,Youliang Zheng,Yuanjiang He,Yuming Wei&Jian Ma

Abstract

Spike-related traits, including fertile florets per spike (FFS), kernel weight per spike (KWS), total florets per spike (TFS), florets per spikelet (FPs), florets in the middle spikelet (FMs), fertile florets per spikelet (FFPs), and kernel weight per spikelet (KWPs), are key traits in improving wheat yield. In the present study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these traits evaluated under various environments were detected in a recombinant inbred line population (msf/Chuannong 16) mainly genotyped using the 16 K SNP array. Ultimately, we identified 60 QTL, but only QFFS.sau-MC-1A for FFS was a major and stably expressed QTL. It was located on chromosome arm 1AS, where loci for TFS, FPs, FMs, FFS, FFPs, KWS, and KWPs were also simultaneously co-mapped. The effect of QFFS.sau-MC-1A was further validated in three independent segregating populations using a Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR marker. For the co-located QTL,QFFS.sau-MC-1A, the presence of a positive allele frommsfwas associate with increases for all traits: + 12.29% TFS, + 10.15% FPs, + 13.97% FMs, + 17.12% FFS, + 14.75% FFPs, + 22.17% KWS, and + 19.42% KWPs. Furthermore, pleiotropy analysis showed that the positive allele at QFFS.sau-MC-1A simultaneously increased the spike length, spikelet number per spike, and thousand-kernel weight.QFFS.sau-MC-1A represents a novel QTL for marker-assisted selection with the potential for improving wheat yield. Four genes,TraesCS1A03G0012700,TraesCS1A03G0015700,TraesCS1A03G0016000, and TraesCS1A03G0016300, which may affect spike development, were predicted in the physical interval harboring QFFS.sau-MC-1A. Our results will help in further fine mappingQFFS.sau-MC-1Aand be useful for improving wheat yield.

Key message

A co-located novel QTL for TFS, FPs, FMs, FFS, FFPs, KWS, and KWPs with potential of improving wheat yield was identified and validated.