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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331115
Title: Genome-wide association analysis on pre-harvest sprouting resistance and grain color in U.S. winter wheat

Author
item LIN, MENG - Kansas State University
item ZHANG, DADONG - Kansas State University
item LIU, SHUBING - Kansas State University
item ZHANG, GUORONG - Kansas State University
item YU, JIANMING - Kansas State University
item FRITZ, ALLAN - Kansas State University
item Bai, Guihua

Submitted to: BMC Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2016
Publication Date: 10/12/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63352
Citation: Lin, M., Zhang, D., Liu, S., Zhang, G., Yu, J., Fritz, A., Bai, G. 2016. Genome-wide association analysis on pre-harvest sprouting resistance and grain color in U.S. winter wheat. BMC Genomics. 17:794. doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3148-6.

Interpretive Summary: Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat can cause substantial reductions in grain yield and end-use quality. Grain color and other genetic components affect PHS resistance. We conducted a genome-wide association study on grain color and PHS resistance using a panel of 185 U.S. elite breeding lines and cultivars. We identified 9 genes for grain color on seven chromosomes and 13 genes for PHS resistance on 11 chromosomes. Genes that affect both grain color and PHS resistance were identified on the long arms of the 3A and 3D chromosomes. However, several other genes that do not affect grain color also played significant roles on PHS resistance. Therefore, it is possible to breed PHS-resistant white wheat by pyramiding these non-color related genes.

Technical Abstract: Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat can cause substantial reduction in grain yield and end-use quality. Grain color (GC) together with other components affect PHS resistance. Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been reported for PHS resistance, among which one gene responsible for PHS resistance on chromosome 3AS (TaPHS1) has been cloned. To determine genetic architecture of both traits and their genetic relationships, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted for a panel of 185 U.S. elite breeding lines and cultivars. This population was evaluated for sprouting rates of wheat spikes and GC in both greenhouse and field experiments. The population was genotyped using the wheat 9K and 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. Nine QTLs for GC on seven chromosomes and 13 QTLs for PHS resistance on 11 chromosomes were identified in at least two experiments. QTLs for PHS resistance showed varied effects under different environments, and those on chromosomes 3AS, 3AL, 3B, 4AL and 7A were the more frequently identified. The common QTLs for GC and PHS resistance were identified on the long arms of the 3A and 3D chromosomes. Wheat grain color not only regulated by the three known genes on group 3 chromosomes, but also genes from other chromosomes. These grain color genes showed significant effects on PHS resistance in some environments however, several other QTLs that do not affect grain color also played significant roles on PHS resistance. Therefore, it is possible to breed PHS-resistant white wheat by pyramiding these non-color related QTLs.