title: Genome-wide association analyses of 54 traits identified multiple loci for the determination of floret fertility in wheat.
abstract: Increasing grain yield is still the main target of wheat breeding; yet today's wheat plants utilize less than half of their yield potential. Owing to the difficulty of determining grain yield potential in a large population, few genetic factors regulating floret fertility (i.e. the difference between grain yield potential and grain number) have been reported to date. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) by quantifying 54 traits (16 floret fertility traits and 38 traits for assimilate partitioning and spike morphology) in 210 European winter wheat accessions. The results of this GWAS experiment suggested potential associations between floret fertility, assimilate partitioning and spike morphology revealed by shared quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Several candidate genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, phytohormones or floral development colocalized with such QTLs, thereby providing potential targets for selection. Based on our GWAS results we propose a genetic network underlying floret fertility and related traits, nominating determinants for improved yield performance.
authors.affiliation: Independent HEISENBERG Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Zifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Research Group Image Analysis, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Dijun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Independent HEISENBERG Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Ahmad M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alqudah
authors.affiliation: Research Group Gene and Genome Mapping, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Marion S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Röder
authors.affiliation: TraitGenetics GmbH, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ganal
authors.affiliation: Independent HEISENBERG Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schnurbusch
mesh_terms: D005298:Fertility; D058685:Genetic Pleiotropy; D005828:Genetics, Population; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D014908:Triticum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: assimilate distribution; candidate genes; floret fertility; genome-wide association study (GWAS); quantitative trait locus (QTL); spike morphology