AUTHOR=Sun Nina , Liu Wei , Shi Deyang , Zhao Chunhua , Ou Jinlian , Song Yuanze , Yang Zilin , Sun Han , Wu Yongzhen , Qin Ran , Yuan Tangyu , Jiao Yanlin , Li Linzhi , Cui Fa 

TITLE=Mapping QTLs with additive and epistatic effects for awn length and their effects on kernel-related traits in common wheat

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1417588

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1417588

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Wheat awns are crucial determinants of wheat yield due to their capacity to photosynthesize and exchange gas. Understanding the genetic basis of awn length (AL) is essential for improving wheat yield in molecular breeding programs.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of AL were analyzed using recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population referred to as YY-RILs, which was derived from a cross between Yannong 15 (YN15) and Yannong 1212 (YN1212).</p></sec><sec><title>Results and discussion</title><p>Seven putative additive QTLs and 30 pairwise epistatic QTLs for AL were identified. Among them, five novel additive QTLs (except <italic>qAl-2A</italic> and <italic>qAl-5A.2</italic>) and 30 novel pairwise epistatic QTLs were identified. <italic>qAl-5A.1</italic> was repeatedly identified in all five environment datasets, which was considered to be one novel stable QTL for AL with minor additive effects. <italic>eqAl-2B.2-2</italic> significantly interacted with eight loci and could be of great importance in regulating awn development. The genes associated with the major stable QTL of <italic>qAl-5A.2</italic> and the minor stable QTL of <italic>qAl-2A</italic> were <italic>B1</italic> and <italic>WFZP-A</italic>, respectively. Awn lengths exhibited significant genetic correlations with kernel weight and kernels per spike, which could affect grain protein content to a lesser extent. This study enhances our understanding of the genetic basis of awn development and identifies novel genes as well as markers for future genetic improvement of wheat yield.</p></sec>