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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 #313025
Title: Impact of the D genome and quantitative trait loci on quantitative traits in a spring durum by spring bread wheat cross

Author
item KALOUS, J - Montana State University
item MARTIN, J - Montana State University
item SHERMAN, J - Montana State University
item HEO, H - Montana State University
item BLAKE, N - Montana State University
item LANNING, S - Montana State University
item ECKHOFF, J.L - Montana State University
item Chao, Shiaoman
item TALBERT, L - Montana State University

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2015
Publication Date: 8/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61401
Citation: Kalous, J.R., Martin, J.M., Sherman, J.D., Heo, H.-Y., Blake, N.K., Lanning, S.P., Eckhoff, J.L.A., Chao, S., Akhunov, E., Talbert, L.E. 2015. Impact of the D genome and quantitative trait loci on quantitative traits in a spring durum by spring bread wheat cross. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 128:1799-1811.

Interpretive Summary: Desirable agronomic traits are similar for both bread wheat and durum wheat, such as grain yield. Bread wheat and durum wheat belong to different species and each carry different numbers of chromosomes. The genetic separation of the two species provides the possibility that different favorable genetic variants may have been selected in each species. These genetic variants provide useful resources to expand genetic diversity for bread wheat improvement. Despite progress made on exploiting genes controlling agronomic traits with complex inheritance in an interspecific cross, little success has been reported for moving such genes from a durum wheat to bread wheat background. This is largely due to sterility in interspecific hybrids, a major obstacle in the development of a sufficient number of progeny for analysis of complex traits. In this study, interspecific populations with a large number of progeny at both levels of chromosome numbers were developed from a cross between Choteau (spring wheat) and Mountrail (durum wheat). Genetic variants from Mountrail having positive genetic effects for traits important to the wheat industry were identified in samples with Choteau background, and may be useful for trait introduction by bread wheat breeders. The results of this study provided insight into the evolution and domestication of wheat, and may help identify novel genes for use in wheat improvement.

Technical Abstract: Desirable agronomic traits are similar for common hexaploid (6X) bread wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n = 6x = 42, genome, AABBDD) and tetraploid (4X) durum wheat (Triticum turgidum durum, 2n = 4x = 28, genome, AABB). However, they are genetically isolated from each other due to an unequal number of genomes causing sterility in crosses. Previous work allowed identification of a 6X by 4X cross combination that resulted in a large number of recombinant progeny at both ploidy levels. In this study, interspecific recombinant inbred line populations at both 4X and 6X ploidy with 88 and 117 individuals, respectively, were developed from a cross between Choteau spring wheat (6X) and Mountrail durum wheat (4X). Lines within each population contained a mixture of alleles from each parent for loci in the A and B genomes. The presence of the D genome in the 6X population resulted in increased yield, tiller number, and seed size. The D genome also resulted in a decrease in stem solidness, lower test weight and fewer seed per spike. Similar results were found with a second RIL population containing 152 lines from 18 additional 6X by 4X crosses. Several additional QTL for agronomic and quality traits were identified in both the 4X and 6X populations. Positive durum alleles increasing kernel weight in hexaploids, on chromosomes 3B and 7A may be useful for introgression by bread wheat breeders.