Phenotyping pipeline reveals major seedling root growth QTL in hexaploid wheat.
Seedling root traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) have been shown to be important for efficient establishment and linked to mature plant traits such as height and yield. A root phenotyping pipeline, consisting of a germination paper-based screen combined with image segmentation and analysis software, was developed and used to characterize seedling traits in 94 doubled haploid progeny derived from a cross between the winter wheat cultivars Rialto and Savannah. Field experiments were conducted to measure mature plant height, grain yield, and nitrogen (N) uptake in three sites over 2 years. In total, 29 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for seedling root traits were identified. Two QTLs for grain yield and N uptake co-localize with root QTLs on chromosomes 2B and 7D, respectively. Of the 29 root QTLs identified, 11 were found to co-localize on 6D, with four of these achieving highly significant logarithm of odds scores (>20). These results suggest the presence of a major-effect gene regulating seedling root vigour/growth on chromosome 6D.
Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Jonathan A
JA
Atkinson
Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
Luzie U
LU
Wingen
Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Marcus
M
Griffiths
Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Michael P
MP
Pound
Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Oorbessy
O
Gaju
Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
M John
MJ
Foulkes
INRA, UMR 1095 Génétique, Diversité et Ecophysiologie des Céréales, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Jacques
J
Le Gouis
Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
Simon
S
Griffiths
Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
Malcolm J
MJ
Bennett
Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK j.king@nottingham.ac.uk darren.wells@nottingham.ac.uk.
Julie
J
King
Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK j.king@nottingham.ac.uk darren.wells@nottingham.ac.uk.
Darren M
DM
Wells
D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D011123:Polyploidy; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*
D009584:Nitrogen
High-throughput phenotyping; root system architecture.