title: QTL detection for wheat kernel size and quality and the responses of these traits to low nitrogen stress.
abstract: QTLs for kernel characteristics and tolerance to N stress were identified, and the functions of ten known genes with regard to these traits were specified. Kernel size and quality characteristics in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ultimately determine the end use of the grain and affect its commodity price, both of which are influenced by the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer. This study characterized quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for kernel size and quality and examined the responses of these traits to low-N stress using a recombinant inbred line population derived from Kenong 9204 × Jing 411. Phenotypic analyses were conducted in five trials that each included low- and high-N treatments. We identified 109 putative additive QTLs for 11 kernel size and quality characteristics and 49 QTLs for tolerance to N stress, 27 and 14 of which were stable across the tested environments, respectively. These QTLs were distributed across all wheat chromosomes except for chromosomes 3A, 4D, 6D, and 7B. Eleven QTL clusters that simultaneously affected kernel size- and quality-related traits were identified. At nine locations, 25 of the 49 QTLs for N deficiency tolerance coincided with the QTLs for kernel characteristics, indicating their genetic independence. The feasibility of indirect selection of a superior genotype for kernel size and quality under high-N conditions in breeding programs designed for a lower input management system are discussed. In addition, we specified the functions of Glu-A1, Glu-B1, Glu-A3, Glu-B3, TaCwi-A1, TaSus2, TaGS2-D1, PPO-D1, Rht-B1, and Ha with regard to kernel characteristics and the sensitivities of these characteristics to N stress. This study provides useful information for the genetic improvement of wheat kernel size, quality, and resistance to N stress.
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China. facui@sjziam.ac.cn.|State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. facui@sjziam.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Fa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China. fanjie198656@aliyun.com.|Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China. fanjie198656@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10049, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10049, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China.|State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China.|State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10049, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China.|State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.|State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xueqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Xinxiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang, 453000, China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Xinxiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang, 453000, China.
authors.forename: Zongwu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.|State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China. ljm@sjziam.ac.cn.|State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. ljm@sjziam.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Junming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005308:Fertilizers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D009584:Nitrogen