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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253190
Title: Genome Mapping of Kernel Characteristics in Hard Red Spring Wheat Breeding Lines

Author
item TSILO, TOI - University Of Minnesota
item Hareland, Gary
item SIMSEK, SENAY - North Dakota State University
item Chao, Shiaoman
item ANDERSON, JAMES - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/3/2010
Publication Date: 8/1/2010
Citation: Tsilo, T., Hareland, G.A., Simsek, S., Chao, S., Anderson, J. 2010. Genome Mapping of Kernel Characteristics in Hard Red Spring Wheat Breeding Lines. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 121:717–730

Interpretive Summary: Wheat kernel weight, kernel size, and protein content, are important components of grain yield and wheat quality. The development of high performing wheat cultivars that exhibit high grain yield and quality is a major focus in wheat breeding programs. In this study, we report chromosome regions harboring genes that influence kernel weight, kernel diameter, kernel size distribution, grain protein content and grain yield in hard red spring wheat breeding lines adapted to the Upper Midwest region of the United States. Stable QTL clusters influencing kernel weight, kernel diameter, and kernel size distribution were identified on chromosomes 2A, 5B, and 7A. Phenotypic variation explained by individual QTL at these clusters varied from 5 to 20% depending on the trait. A QTL region on chromosome 2B confers an undesirable pleiotropic effect or a repulsion linkage between grain yield and grain protein content. However, several grain protein and grain yield QTL were also identified. Because some of the QTL identified in this study were consistent across environments, DNA markers will provide an opportunity to increase the frequency of desirable alleles through marker-assisted selection.

Technical Abstract: Kernel characteristics, particularly kernel weight, kernel size, and grain protein content, are important components of grain yield and quality in wheat. Development of high performing wheat cultivars, with high grain yield and quality, is a major focus in wheat breeding programs worldwide. Here, we report chromosome regions harboring genes that influence kernel weight, kernel diameter, kernel size distribution, grain protein content and grain yield in hard red spring wheat breeding lines adapted to the Upper Midwest region of theUnited States. A genetic linkage map comprised of 531 SSR and DArT marker loci spanned a distance of 2,505 cM, covering all 21 chromosomes of wheat. Stable QTL clusters influencing kernel weight, kernel diameter, and kernel size distribution were identified on chromosomes 2A, 5B, and 7A. Phenotypic variation explained by individual QTL at these clusters varied from 5 to 20% depending on the trait. A QTL region on chromosome 2B confers an undesirable pleiotropic effect or a repulsion linkage between grain yield (LOD = 6.7;R2 = 18%) and grain protein content (LOD = 6.2; R2 = 13.3%). However, several grain protein and grain yield QTL independent of each other were also identified. Because some of the QTL identified in this study were consistent across environments, DNA markers will provide an opportunity for increasing the frequency of desirable alleles through marker-assisted selection.