Multifamily QTL analysis and comprehensive design of genotypes for high-quality soft wheat

PLoS One. 2020 Mar 11;15(3):e0230326. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230326. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Milling properties and flour color are essential selection criteria in soft wheat breeding. However, high phenotypic screening costs restrict selection to relatively few breeding lines in late generations. To achieve marker-based selection of these traits in early generations, we performed genetic dissection of quality traits using three doubled haploid populations that shared the high-quality soft wheat variety Kitahonami as the paternal parent. An amplicon sequencing approach allowed effective construction of well-saturated linkage maps of the populations. Marker-based heritability estimates revealed that target quality traits had relatively high values, indicating the possibility of selection in early generations. Taking advantage of Chinese Spring reference sequences, joint linkage maps of the three populations were generated. Based on the maps, multifamily quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis revealed a total of 86 QTLs for ten traits investigated. In terms of target quality traits, 12 QTLs were detected for flour yield, and 12 were detected for flour redness (a* value). Among these QTLs, six for flour yield and nine for flour a* were segregating in more than two populations. Some relationships among traits were explained by QTL collocations on chromosomes, especially group 7 chromosomes. Ten different ideotypes with various combinations of favorable alleles for the flour yield and flour a* QTLs were generated. Phenotypes of derivatives from these ideotypes were predicted to design ideal genotypes for high-quality wheat. Simulations revealed the possibility of breeding varieties with better quality than Kitahonami.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Flour*
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Haploidy
  • Phenotype
  • Plant Breeding / methods*
  • Quantitative Trait Loci*
  • Triticum / genetics*

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan [Smart-breeding system for Innovative Agriculture (BAC2003) to GI and Genomics-based Technology for Agricultural Improvement (NGB1002 and NGB1007)]. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.