Hybridization between cotton and Malvaceae species as a tool for production of partial interspecific aneuploid cotton plants

Cotton although is an autogamous species could be cross pollinated under favorable climate conditions and/or in the presence of pollinators. The coexistence of cotton with Malvaceae species raises questions on the possibility pollen to be exchanged among Malvaceae species and on the resulted consequences. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the in situ response of cotton flowers (G.hirsutum L, G. barbadense L.) and their F₁ interspecific hybrids when are artificially pollinated with Malva sylvestris L., Hibiscus syriacus L. and Abelmoschus esculentus Moench. Furthermore, an in vitro protocol was attempted to support embryos’ growth in order to produce viable progenies originating from crosses between cotton and the aforementioned Malvaceae species. The obtained results gave evidence that pollen from the above Malvaceae species stimulated cotton ovaries without successful hybridization. The interaction between pollen and cotton’s stigmas was higher at early stages when M. sylvestris was used as pollinator but in crosses with H. syriacus and A. esculentus more ovules were activated as revealed by the percentage of carpodesis and life-time of bolls onto maternal plants. Only crosses between cotton with okra produced cotton seeds under in situ conditions. The in vitro embryo-ovule culture protocol, used, increased the number of regenerated cotton plants, especially in crosses among F₁ interspecific cotton hybrids and A. esculentus. In this case, regenerated plants were recombinant aneuploids, combining traits from both cotton species. This novel cotton germplasm possessing unique chromosome rearrangements, at aneuploid level could be proved useful after cytogenetic, molecular or QTL genetic analysis referring to important agronomic traits.     

陆地棉产量相关性状的QTL定位

中棉所28和湘杂棉2号分别是以中棉所12×4133和中棉所12×8891配制而成的两个陆地棉强优势杂交种。以其F₂为作图群体,筛选6000多对SSR引物,利用两群体间27个共有多态位点,通过JoinMap 3.0软件整合了一张包含245个多态位点、全长1847.81 cM的遗传图谱。利用Win QTLCart 2.5复合区间作图法分别对两群体8个产量相关性状在F₂和F_2:3中进行QTL定位,在中棉所28群体多环境平均值的联合分析中检测到16个QTL,三环境分离分析中检测到43个QTL;在湘杂棉2号群体分别检测到20个和66个QTL。在A3、D8、D9等染色体上有QTL成簇分布现象,同时在两个群体中发现一些不受环境影响且稳定遗传的QTL。对考察的8个性状在两个群体中发现12对共有QTL,控制果枝数、衣分和籽指的QTL增效基因位点均来源于共同亲本中棉所12。综合分析推测中棉所12的育种价值主要是通过提高后代的结铃性来实现的。研究结果为棉花产量性状的分子设计育种提供了有用的信息。     

Genotypic comparisons of chromosomes 01, 04, and 18 from three tetraploid species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium</Emphasis> in topcrosses with five elite cultivars of <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. hirsutum</Emphasis> L.

Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. is the most widely planted cultivated cotton in the United States and the world. The other cultivated tetraploid species G. barbadense L. is planted on considerable less area; however, it produces extra long, strong, and fine fibers which spins into superior yarn. The wild cotton tetraploid species G. tomentosum Nuttall ex Seemann, native to the Hawaiian Archipelago also exhibits traits, such as drought tolerance, that would also be desirable to transfer to Upland cotton. Long-term breeding efforts using whole genome crosses between Upland and these species have not been successful in transferring very many desirable alleles into Upland cotton. Our chromosome substitution lines (CSL) have one chromosome or chromosome arm from an alien species backcrossed into the Upland cotton line,TM-1, via aneuploid technology. Five Upland cultivars were crossed with CS-B01, CS-T01, CS-B04, CS-T04, CS-B18 and CS-T18 and TM-1 the recurrent parent of the CSLs. This provided an opportunity to determine the effects of chromosomes 01, 04, and 18 from the three species in crosses with the five cultivars. Predicted genotypic mean effects of the parents, F₂, and F₃ generations for eight agronomic and fiber traits of importance were compared. The predicted hybrid mean effects for the three chromosomes from each species were different for several of the traits across cultivars. There was no single chromosome or species that was superior for all traits in crosses. Parental and hybrid lines often differed in the effect of a particular chromosome among the three species. The predicted genotypic mean effects for F₂ and F₃, with a few exceptions, generally agree with our previous results for additive and dominance genetic effects of these CSL.     

Morphological variation of starch granules in S<Subscript>1</Subscript> cassava progenies

The need to develop new cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties with different starch characteristics has greatly motivated new research. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological alterations in starch granules as well as genetic gains in segregating S₁ cassava populations. Starch from accessions (S₀): BGM0222, BGM1378 and BGM1662 and from their self-fertilized progenies (S₁): F0222, F1378 and F1662, with 78, 80 and 76 individuals, respectively, were evaluated for the following traits: area (ArStGr, µm²), perimeter (PrStGr, µm), length (LeStGr, µm) and number of starch granules (NuStGr). Moreover, some agronomic traits of the S₁ progenies were evaluated at harvest such as: plant height (PlaHei), shoot yield (ShoYi), root yield (RoYi), starch yield (StYi), and root dry matter content (DMC). With the selection of transgressive individuals in S₁ progenies, it is possible to obtain selection gains for values higher and lower than the average of the S₀ genitors, whereas selection gains can reach up to 16.58, 8.39, 7.87 and 34.18% for ArStGr, LeStGr, PrStGr, and NuStGr, respectively. Average size of the starch granule varied from 9.8 to 12.37 µm among individuals in an S₁ progeny. Positive and high correlations between the individuals were found for some morphological characteristics of the cassava starch granule but not strongly correlated with agronomic traits. Therefore, it is possible to select S₁ cassava individuals for agronomic characteristics without losing other important starch traits. Cassava-segregating populations allow the obtainment of individuals with different morphological characteristics as for starch granules, enabling obtainment of genetic gains with the selection.     

Performance and combining ability in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.) populations with diverse parents

Improving fiber quality properties of cotton is important for increasing the efficiency of manufacturing textiles, including enhancing yarn quality and spinning performance. This study was conducted to determine if we could identify valuable cotton cultivars to use as parents in breeding programs with the goal of improving fiber properties. Seven parents were combined in a diallel design and selfed to obtain 21 F₂ populations. Positive general and specific combining ability effects were observed for all traits. General combining ability tended to be larger than specific combining ability, indicating these traits are controlled primarily by additive genetic effects. Correlations among traits were generally positive except for lint yield correlations with fiber strength and length. For improving the fiber quality measures of strength and length, line 7235 shows excellent general combining ability effects. SG125 would provide elite germplasm to increase agronomic measures of lint yield and lint percent. The MD51 genotype has the highest potential among the genotypes tested here to provide germplasm combining both improved yield and fiber strength. These parents, or their selected progeny, should be useful in a breeding program to generate variability from which selection can be used to identify lines with improved fiber and/or agronomic properties.     

Diversity in a pea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis>) world collection for key agronomic traits in a rain-fed environment of Southern Europe

The marked underutilization of pea ecotype and old cultivar genetic resources need be reversed by producing information on elite germplasm and diversity patterns for key agronomic traits. This study generated such information for a world collection of 223 ecotypes or old cultivars of P. sativum subsp. sativum subdivided into 19 regional pools (each represented by 9–15 entries) and one reference pool of 11 locally-adapted varieties from France, Spain and Germany. The collection was evaluated for grain yield, seed protein content, straw biomass, phenology and other agronomic and morphological traits in a spring-sown, water-limited environment of Northern Italy. Variation within ecotype/old cultivar germplasm pools was at least two-fold greater for seed size and protein content and seven-fold greater for other traits relative to variation between pools, and was particularly large within pools from Central Europe, Near East and United Kingdom. The traditional germplasm, compared with improved variety material, tended to display higher dry grain yield (1.11 vs. 0.85 t/ha) and straw biomass, later crop maturity, smaller seed, and similar protein content. Traditional germplasm from Central Europe combined outstanding grain yield and total biomass with high seed protein content. High grain yield characterized, inter alia, the germplasm pools from Ukraine and Spain, the latter also featuring high protein content. Several ecotype/old cultivar accessions out-performed (P < 0.05) the best-ranking varieties for grain yield or protein content. Patterns of phenotypic variation were poorly related to geographic origin of germplasm pools, while highlighting the distinctness of improved variety germplasm.     

Identification of transposable element markers associated with yield and quality traits from an association panel of independent mutants in peanut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis hypogaea</Emphasis> L.)

To identify marker–trait associations (MTAs) for yield and quality traits in peanut, genic and nongenic Arachis hypogaea transposable element (AhTE) markers were employed in a population consisting of independent mutants from several parents. The population was field-evaluated during the rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015, and genotyped with 110 AhTE markers to check the polymorphisms for AhMITE1 transposition. The gene diversity index ranged from 0.00 to 0.50 with average of 0.35, indicating low to moderate genetic diversity in the population. Diversity analysis indicated the grouping of mutants derived from each parent in respective subgroups. Marker–trait association analysis for 110 markers and 40 traits resulted in 132 highly significant MTAs, represented by 58 AhTE markers for 39 traits. Nutritional traits recorded the highest number of MTAs (38), followed by agronomic traits (35), productivity traits (31), foliar disease resistance (23), and taxonomic traits (5). Seventeen MTAs with phenotypic variance explained (PVE) value above 50 % were observed for resistance to late leaf spot (LLS) and rust, plant height, and pod width. The genic and nongenic AhTE markers associated with the above traits were analyzed for their genomic location and functional annotation so that the significance of these loci can be analyzed in the future.     

陆地棉主要农艺与纤维品质性状的双列杂交分 析简

 本文利用加性-显性与环境互作的遗传模型（ADE模型）,分析8个陆地棉亲本及其F1在不同环境下的农艺和纤维品质性状,在估算遗传方差分量、遗传效应的基础上,分析各类性状间的遗传相关性,并预测F1和F2的杂种优势,为棉花杂种优势利用和新品种选育提供了较有价值的信息。研究表明,农艺与纤维品质性状的遗传主要受加性、显性和加性与环境互作效应控制。遗传相关分析表明,皮棉产量与纤维品质性状的显性相关系数值较大,利用杂种优势在早期世代可以得到协同改良,纤维品质性状间易实现协同改良。杂种优势分析表明,F₁和F₂的皮棉产量均具有显著的超亲优势,纤维品质性状的杂种优势不明显。     

Analysis of population structure and genetic diversity reveals gene flow and geographic patterns in cultivated rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">O. sativa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. glaberrima</Emphasis>) in West Africa

To fully exploit the diversity in African rice germplasm and to broaden the gene pool reliable information on the population genetic diversity and phenotypic characteristics is a prerequisite. In this paper, the population structure and genetic diversity of 42 cultivated African rice (Oryza spp.) accessions originating from West Africa (Benin, Mali and Nigeria, Liberia etc.) were investigated using 20 simple sequence repeats (SSR) and 77 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP). Additionally, field trials were set up to gain insight into phenotypic characteristics that differentiate the genetic populations among rice accessions. The analysis revealed considerably high polymorphisms for SSR markers (PIC mean?=?0.78) in the germplasm studied. A significant association was found between AFLP markers and geographic origin of rice accessions (R?=?0.72). Germplasm structure showed that Oryza sativa accessions were not totally isolated from Oryza glaberrima accessions. The results allowed identification of five O. glaberrima accessions which grouped together with O. sativa accessions, sharing common alleles of 18 loci out of the 20 SSR markers analyzed. Population structure analysis revealed existence of a gene flow between O. sativa and O. glaberrima rice accessions which can be used to combine several interesting traits in breeding programs. Further studies are needed to clarify the contributions of this gene flow to valuable traits such as abiotic and biotic stresses including disease resistance.     

光子陆地棉种质资源主要性状的遗传评价

以102份光子陆地棉材料为母本,分别与遗传标准系TM-1杂交,获得102个F₁群体。采用随机区组设计,设置3个重复,对光子陆地棉材料主要性状进行遗传评价。结果表明,调查的11个性状表型差异均较大,材料间产量性状(株高、果枝数、铃数、铃重、衣分和子指)差异大于纤维品质性状(纤维长度、纤维强度、马克隆值、整齐度和伸长率),特别是衣分、铃数等性状差异更明显; 除果枝数、马克隆值、伸长率以外,光子亲本群体其他性状的平均值都小于F₁群体。而亲本群体所有性状的变异系数均大于F₁,不同光子材料的杂种优势有很大差别,中亲优势和超亲优势也有很大的差别,有些种质某些性状的中亲、超亲优势为负值,其后代性状表现劣势; 纤维品质性状的中亲、超亲优势与毛子程度均呈负相关,而产量性状的中亲、超亲优势与毛子程度均呈正相关,说明可利用光子材料杂种优势改良纤维品质,而其后代产量性状的杂种优势利用受到限制; SSR分子标记遗传相似系数与各个性状的中亲、超亲优势的相关都不显著,说明在光子材料的育种中,杂种优势是不能通过亲本之间的遗传背景相似程度来预测的。     

Phenotypic variation in root architecture traits and their relationship with eco-geographical and agronomic features in a core collection of tetraploid wheat landraces (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum turgidum</Emphasis> L.)

To obtain varieties with root systems adapted to marginal environments it is necessary to search for new genotypes in genetically diverse materials, such as landraces that are more likely to carry novel alleles for different root features. A core collection of ‘durum’ wheat, including three subspecies (dicoccon, turgidum and durum) from contrasting eco-geographical zones, was evaluated for root traits and shoot weight at the seminal root stage. Distinctive rooting phenotypes were characterized within each subspecies, mainly in subsp. durum. Contrasting rooting types, including large roots with shallow distributions, and others with high root numbers were identified. Correlations with climatic traits showed that root shape is more relevant in adaptation to eco-geographical zones in subsp. dicoccon, whereas in subsp. turgidum and durum, which come from warmer and drier areas, both size and shape of roots could have adaptive roles. Root traits with the largest positive effects on certain yield components under limited water conditions included root diameter in subsp. dicoccon, root size in turgidum, and root number in durum. Additionally, shoot weight at the seedling stage had important effects in subsp. turgidum and durum. Twenty-eight marker–trait associations (MTAs) previously identified in this collection for agronomic or quality traits were associated with seminal root traits. Some markers were associated with only one root trait, but others were associated with up to six traits. These MTAs and the genetic variability characterized for root traits in this collection can be exploited in further work to improve drought tolerance and resource capture in wheat.     

持续高温干旱年份陆地棉农艺和产量性状的遗传效应分析

本文采用NCⅡ交配设计方法,以9个陆地棉品种(系)配置16个杂交组合,利用加性—显性与环境互作的遗传模型(ADE模型),分析亲本和F1在2013年持续高温干旱条件下望江、九江2个环境下的农艺和产量性状,估算了各项遗传方差分量,分析了性状间各项遗传效应的相关性和各性状的杂种优势。结果表明,农艺和产量性状易受环境条件影响,子棉产量、皮棉产量、单株铃数和铃重的遗传主要受显性效应控制,衣分同时受加性和显性效应控制,子指主要受加性效应控制。遗传相关分析表明,子棉产量和皮棉产量与铃重和衣分呈显性正相关;铃重与衣分呈显性正相关,衣分与子指的加性和显性均为负相关。杂种优势分析表明,中棉所63的铃重、衣分、子指、子棉产量和皮棉产量的群体平均优势达极显著水平,其皮棉产量的杂种优势可以利用至F3。     

Cotton Response to Salinity and Different Potassium-Sodium Ratio in Irrigation Water

The present study was designed to investigate cotton response to different salinity levels at different K/Na ratios of irrigation water.
The salinity levels in irrigation water were 3200 and 6400 mg/1 and the control treatment had a 320 mg/L. Potassium/Sodium ratios in irrigation water were 1: 9 and 1: 4.
Some agronomic traits were studied as well as leaf water Potential (LWP), and leaf samples were taken for elemental analysis.
Statistical analysis showed that increasing total salinity of irrigation water reduced seed yield and total dry weight of cotton but not number of total or open bolls. Lower K/Na ratio (1:9) was of benificial effects on most agronomic traits.
Increasing salinity of irrigation water caused an increase in Na, but not K or Ca content of the cotton leaves; while decreasing K/Na ratio in the saline irrigation water decreased the K/Na ratio in the leaves. Lower leaf water potential was found to be associated with higher levels of both water salinity and K/Na ratio.
A strong relationships were found between cotton seed yield, LWP and K/total bases content in leaves. Ionic content relations (K/Na and K/total bases content) were found to be of a strong association with LWP.
In brief, it could be concluded that increasing K to certain extent; K/Na (1: 9) could be useful in irrigating cotton plant with high water salinity.
The benificial effects of potassium additions to diminish the salinity effects in cotton may be the consequence of improved plant water relations, as well as the status of ion relationships.     

Hybridization and heterosis in the Plicatula group of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paspalum</Emphasis>

Most forage cultivars released for the genus Paspalum belong to a section named Plicatula. The species of Plicatula are mostly apomictic and consequently the genetic diversity is locked for their genetic improvement. The objectives were to evaluate the crossability, hybrid fertility, heterosis, and genetic distances between apomictic accessions and a sexual genotype of species of Plicatula group of Paspalum. Crosses were made using 22 apomictic tetraploid accessions belonging to 12 different species as pollen donors, and a sexual tetraploid genotype induced by colchicine from a sexual diploid accession of P. plicatulum. Crossability varied between 0 and 16% among crosses. Viable hybrid offspring were recovered from 15 out of 22 crosses. The most successful crosses involved P. guenoarum, P. plicatulum, P. chaseanum, and P. oteroi. Fertility of the sampled hybrids varied between 1.6% for the cross involving P. lenticulare, and 40.1% for an intraspecific cross (P. plicatulum, accession Hojs388). The genetic distance between parents was estimated using amplified fragment-length polymorphism, and it varied between 0.34 and 0.53. There was no correlation between genetic distances and crossability or fertility of the hybrids. Hybrids from the most numerous families were classified for mode of reproduction using flow cytometric seed analysis. The ratio between sexual and apomictic hybrids varied between 0.6:1 and 1.6:1. A selected group of apomictic hybrids were evaluated for several agronomic traits in the field. Heterosis was observed for frost tolerance and cattle preference. The results indicated that gene transfer via hybridization is possible among several species of Plicatula. Superior hybrids for specific traits can be generated and fixed by apomixis.     

Genetic effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Striga</Emphasis> resistance in sorghum genotypes

Striga is an important parasitic weed causing substantial economic losses in cereal and legume crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. Integrated Striga management approaches such as a combined use of Striga resistant varieties and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae (FOS), a biocontrol agent of Striga, are an option to control the parasite and to boost sorghum productivity. Understanding host gene action influencing Striga resistance, with or without FOS treatment, is key to developing improved sorghum varieties with durable resistance and high yield. The objective of this study was to determine the gene action and inheritance of Striga resistance using genetically diverse populations of sorghum involving FOS treatment. Twelve sorghum parents selected for Striga resistance, FOS compatibility or superior agronomic performances were crossed using a bi-parental mating scheme. The selected male and female parents and their F₁ progenies, backcross derivatives and the F₂ segregants were field evaluated at three locations in Tanzania known for their severe Striga infestations using a lattice experimental design with two replications. The following data were collected and subjected to generation mean analysis (GMA): days-to-50% flowering (DFL), seed yield per plant (SYP) and number of Striga per plant (SN). GMA showed the preponderance of additive genetic action contributing to the total genetic variation in the evaluated sorghum populations. The additive genetic effect for DFL, SYP and SN, with and without FOS treatments, ranged from 72.02 to 86.65% and 41.49 to 95.44%, 75.62 to 91.42% and 71.83 to 91.89%, and 77.35 to 93.56% and 72.86 to 95.84%, in that order. The contribution of non-additive genetic effects was minimal and varied among generations. FOS application reduced DFL and SN and improved SYP in most of the tested sorghum populations. DFL of sorghum populations was reduced by a mean of 8 days under FOS treatment compared to the untreated control in families such as 675 × 654, AS435 × AS426 and 1563 × AS436. FOS treatment improved SYP with a mean of 6.44 g plant^?1 in 3424 × 3993 and 3984 × 672. The numbers of Striga plants were reduced with a mean of 16 plants due to FOS treatment in the crosses of 675 × 654, 1563 × AS436, 4567 × AS424, and 3984 × 672. The study demonstrated that additive genes were predominantly responsible for the inheritance of Striga resistance in sorghum. Pure line cultivar development targeting reduced DFL, SN and high SYP in the selected populations may provide enhanced response to selection for integrated Striga management (ISM) programme.     

Changes in genetic diversity during seven cycles of recurrent selection for grainyield in oat, Avena sativa L.

Variability for desirable alleles within elite breeding populations is a requirement for long-term genetic improvement. Changes in genetic diversity were evaluated in a recurrent selection programme for enhanced grain yield in oat, Avena sativa L., using coefficient of parentage (r_p) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) based genetic similarity (S) estimates. Both r_p and s increased during seven cycles of recurrent selection, indicating a reduction in the level of genetic diversity within the population. The relationship between genetic diversity and agronomic performance was also examined. Genetic similarity measures were poor predictors of the near-homozygous progeny performance and general and specific combining ability effects for three agronomic traits in the recurrent selection programme. In addition, there was no apparent trend for preferential selection of progeny from either more similar or more diverse parents within a given cycle of selection. The overall reduction in genetic diversity in this population has not affected selection response for grain yield. Variability remaining at important loci or de novo variation are possible explanations for the continued selection progress.     

Genetic analysis of tropical quality protein maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) germplasm

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important source of carbohydrates and protein in the diet in sub-Saharan Africa. The objectives of this study were to (i) estimate general (GCA) and specific combining abilities (SCA) of 13 new quality protein maize (QPM) lines in a diallel under stress and non-stress conditions, (ii) compare observed and predicted performance of QPM hybrids, (iii) characterize genetic diversity among the 13 QPM lines using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and assess the relationship between genetic distance and hybrid performance, and (iv) assess diversity and population structure in 116 new QPM inbred lines as compared to eight older tropical QPM lines and 15 non-QPM lines. The GCA and SCA effects were significant for most traits under optimal conditions, indicating that both additive and non-additive genetic effects were important for inheritance of the traits. Additive genetic effects appeared to govern inheritance of most traits under optimal conditions and across environments. Non-additive genetic effects were more important for inheritance of grain yield but additive effects controlled most agronomic traits under drought stress conditions. Inbred lines CKL08056, CKL07292, and CKL07001 had desirable GCA effects for grain yield across drought stress and non-stress conditions. Prediction efficiency for grain yield was highest under optimal conditions. The classification of 139 inbred lines with 95 SNPs generated six clusters, four of which contained 10 or fewer lines, and 16 lines of mixed co-ancestry. There was good agreement between Neighbor Joining dendrogram and Structure classification. The QPM lines used in the diallel were nearly uniformly spread throughout the dendrogram. There was no relationship between genetic distance and grain yield in either the optimal or stressed environments in this study. The genetic diversity in mid-altitude maize germplasm is ample, and the addition of the QPM germplasm did not increase it measurably.     

高品质陆地棉与不同类型品种杂种的遗传及优势分析

 比较分析了高品质棉与高品质棉、常规品质转Bt基因抗虫棉杂交组合主要性状的遗传效应和杂种优势。结果表明,两类杂种的子棉产量存在极显著的加性和显性效应;高×高杂种的株铃数和铃重具有极显著的显性效应,高×常抗杂种受加性和显性效应共同控制;两类杂种的纤维品质性状以加性效应为主,但显性效应对纤维长度也起较大作用。高×高杂种的F₁子棉产量和株铃数具有正向超亲优势,高×常抗杂种表现为负向超亲优势;两类杂种的纤维长度和麦克隆值具有较小的正向平均优势,比强度具有负优势。高×高杂种可以在保持亲本良好品质的基础上,利用产量和产量性状的正向超亲优势来提高产量。     

Genetic diversity and association mapping of agronomic yield traits in eighty six synthetic hexaploid wheat

Association mapping is a method to identify associations between target traits and genetic markers based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) of a quantitative trait locus. Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) is derived from a cross between Triticum durum Desf. and Aegilops tauschii Coss. that enhances genetic diversity and broadens breeding resources. In this study, phenotypic diversity in 110 wheat accessions (86 SHW germplasm specimens and 24 conventional wheat varieties) was evaluated quantitatively for yield characteristics of grains per spike, thousand kernel weight, and spike length. Phenotypic data were collected over two years at two locations, and 1785 alleles were detected (mean 6.59), ranging from 3 to 11 alleles per locus. The average genetic diversity index was 0.749, with a range from 0.239 to 0.923. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.145 to 0.968, with a mean value of 0.695. The genetic diversity index and PIC indicated that genome B > D > A. Accessions were grouped into three subgroups based on STRUCTURE and unweighted pair-group with arithmetic mean clustering. The mean LD decay across the genome was 11.78 cM. Association mapping between traits and simple sequence repeat markers was performed using the generalized linear model approach. Forty-six SSR loci were significantly associated with the measured agronomic traits in two geographic locations. Together, these results broaden our knowledge of how to harness elite genes and genetic diversity in SHW in genomic and marker-assisted selection.     

QTL mapping and genetic analysis for maize kernel size and weight in multi-environments

Kernel size and weight are important agronomic traits, as well as crucial traits that influence grain yield in maize. In the present study, 150 F₇ recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross 178×K12 were evaluated for kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW), kernel thickness (KT), and 100-kernel weight (HKW) across seven environments. Natural variations in KL, KW, KT, and HKW were observed in the population. A set of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the kernel-related traits were identified by inclusive composite interval mapping method. For the four kernel traits from seven environments and the best linear unbiased prediction data, a total of 52 QTLs were detected, which distributed on all chromosomes except chromosome 6. The LOD values ranged from 2.52 to 8.91, the additive effect from ??2.22 to 1.37, and the range of individually explaining phenotypic variation was from 5.8 to 23.49%. Amongst these QTLs, most were detected only in one or two environments. Three stable QTLs, qKL4-1 at bin 4.07/4.08, qKW4-2 at bin 4.06 and qKT2-1 at bin 2.02/2.03, were identified across at least three environments. Besides, several overlapping QTLs associated with multiple traits were identified. For example, qKW3-1 for KW and qHKW3-1 for HKW were located in the same marker interval at Bin 3.01/3.02. These stable QTLs and overlapping QTLs found in this study will contribute to the understanding of genetic components of grain yield and provide the foundation for molecular marker-assisted breeding in maize.