Abstract
Key message
A major stable QTL for kernel number per spike was narrowed down to a 2.19-Mb region containing two potential candidate genes, and its effects on yield-related traits were characterized.
Abstract
Kernel number per spike (KNPS) in wheat is a key yield component. Dissection and characterization of major stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for KNPS would be of considerable value for the genetic improvement of yield potential using molecular breeding technology. We had previously reported a major stable QTL controlling KNPS, qKnps-4A. In the current study, primary fine-mapping analysis, based on the primary mapping population, located qKnps-4A to an interval of approximately 6.8-Mb from 649.0 to 655.8 Mb on chromosome 4A refering to ‘Kenong 9204’ genome. Further fine-mapping analysis based on a secondary mapping population narrowed qKnps-4A to an approximately 2.19-Mb interval from 653.72 to 655.91 Mb. Transcriptome sequencing, gene function annotation analysis and homologous gene related reports showed that TraesKN4A01HG38570 and TraesKN4A01HG38590 were most likely to be candidate genes of qKnps-4A. Phenotypic analysis based on paired near-isogenic lines in the target region showed that qKnps-4A increased KNPS mainly by increasing the number of central florets per spike. We also evaluated the effects of qKnps-4A on other yield-related traits. Moreover, we dissected the QTL cluster of qKnps-4A and qTkw-4A and proved that the phenotypic effects were probably due to close linkage of two or more genes rather than pleiotropic effects of a single gene. This study provides molecular marker resource for wheat molecular breeding designed to improve yield potential, and lay the foundation for gene functional analysis of qKnps-4A.
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Funding
This work was funded by the Key R & D Program of Shandong Province, China (Major Innovation Project) (grant no. 2022LZG002-2), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 31871612, 32101726 and 32072051), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (grant no. ZR2022MC119), Taishan scholar young expert (grant no. 20230119), the Major Basic Research Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (grant no. ZR2019ZD16) and the Key R & D Program of Shandong Province, China (Major Science and Technology Innovation Project) (grant no. 2021LZGC009).
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RQ and TM analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. YC, XS, JC, JD and SL performed the genotype identification and phenotype evaluation with the assistance of CW, GP, YG, LZ, SY, while HX. CZ, HS and XL provided assistance with the manuscript writing. YW, JL and FC helped to design the study and revised the manuscript. All of the authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Qin, R., Ma, T., Cai, Y. et al. Characterization and fine mapping analysis of a major stable QTL qKnps-4A for kernel number per spike in wheat. Theor Appl Genet 136, 211 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-023-04456-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-023-04456-1