Open AccessQuantitative Trait Loci Mapping for Spike Characteristics in Hexaploid Wheat
Author(s) -
Zhou Yaopeng,
Conway Benjamin,
Miller Daniela,
Marshall David,
Cooper Aaron,
Murphy Paul,
Chao Shiaoman,
BrownGuedira Gina,
Costa José
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the plant genome
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 1940-3372
DOI - 10.3835/plantgenome2016.10.0101
Subject(s) - biology , quantitative trait locus , spike (software development) , trait , evolutionary biology , computational biology , genetics , gene , computer science , programming language , software engineering
Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) spike characteristics determine the number of grains produced on each spike and constitute key components of grain yield. Understanding of the genetic basis of spike characteristics in wheat, however, is limited. In this study, genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) and the iSelect 9K assay were used on a doubled‐haploid (DH) soft red winter wheat population that showed a wide range of phenotypic variation for spike traits. A genetic map spanning 2934.1 cM with an average interval length of 3.4 cM was constructed. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis involving additive effects, epistasis (QQ) and QTL × environment (QE), and epistasis × environment (QQE) interactions detected a total of 109 QTL, 13 QE, and 20 QQ interactions in five environments. Spike characteristics were mainly determined by additive effects and were fine‐tuned by QQ, QE, and QQE. Major QTL QSl.cz‐1A / QFsn.cz‐1A explained up to 30.9% of the phenotypic variation for spike length (SL) and fertile spikelet number, QGsp.cz‐2B .1 explained up to 15.6% of the phenotypic variation of grain number per spikelet, and QSc.cz‐5A.3 explained up to 80.2% of the phenotypic variation for spike compactness. Additionally, QTL for correlated spike characteristics formed QTL clusters on chromosomes 1A, 5A, 2B, 3B, 5B, 1D, and 5D. This study expands the understanding of the genetic basis of spike characteristics in hexaploid wheat. A number of stable QTL detected in this study have potential to be used in marker‐assisted selection. Additionally, the genetic map generated in this study could be used to study other traits of economic importance.