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Wheat kernel dimensions: how do they contribute to kernel weight at an individual QTL level?

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Abstract

Kernel dimensions (KD) contribute greatly to thousand-kernel weight (TKW) in wheat. In the present study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for TKW, kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW) and kernel diameter ratio (KDR) were detected by both conditional and unconditional QTL mapping methods. Two related F8:9 recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, comprising 485 and 229 lines, respectively, were used in this study, and the trait phenotypes were evaluated in four environments. Unconditional QTL mapping analysis detected 77 additive QTL for four traits in two populations. Of these, 24 QTL were verified in at least three trials, and five of them were major QTL, thus being of great value for marker assisted selection in breeding programmes. Conditional QTL mapping analysis, compared with unconditional QTL mapping analysis, resulted in reduction in the number of QTL for TKW due to the elimination of TKW variations caused by its conditional traits; based on which we first dissected genetic control system involved in the synthetic process between TKW and KD at an individual QTL level. Results indicated that, at the QTL level, KW had the strongest influence on TKW, followed by KL, and KDR had the lowest level contribution to TKW. In addition, the present study proved that it is not all-inclusive to determine genetic relationships of a pairwise QTL for two related/causal traits based on whether they were co-located. Thus, conditional QTL mapping method should be used to evaluate possible genetic relationships of two related/causal traits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Taian Subcenter of National Wheat Improvement Center, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, People’s Republic of China

    FA CUI, ANMING DING, JUN LI, CHUNHUA ZHAO, XINGFENG LI, DESHUN FENG, LIN WANG, JURONG GAO & HONGGANG WANG

  2. Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    FA CUI

  3. Tianxing Biotechnology, Handian Industrial Zone, 256200 Zouping, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    JUN LI

  4. Municipal Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zao’zhuang, 277100, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    XIUQIN WANG

  5. Municipal Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji’ning, 272031, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    LIN WANG

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  1. FA CUI
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  2. ANMING DING
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  3. JUN LI
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  4. CHUNHUA ZHAO
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  10. HONGGANG WANG
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Correspondence to HONGGANG WANG.

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Fa Cui, Anming Ding, Jun Li and Chunhua Zhao contributed equally to this work.

Cui F., Ding A., Li J., Zhao C., Li X., Feng D., Wang X., Wang L., Gao J. and Wang H. 2011 Wheat kernel dimensions: how do they contribute to kernel weight at an individual QTL level? J. Genet. 90, xx–xx

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CUI, F., DING, A., LI, J. et al. Wheat kernel dimensions: how do they contribute to kernel weight at an individual QTL level? . J Genet 90, 409–425 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-011-0103-9

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