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QTL for root angle and number in a population developed from bread wheats (Triticum aestivum) with contrasting adaptation to water-limited environments

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Abstract

Root architecture traits in wheat are important in deep soil moisture acquisition and may be used to improve adaptation to water-limited environments. The genetic architecture of two root traits, seminal root angle and seminal root number, were investigated using a doubled haploid population derived from SeriM82 and Hartog. Multiple novel quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified, each one having a modest effect. For seminal root angle, four QTL (−log10(P) >3) were identified on 2A, 3D, 6A and 6B, and two suggestive QTL (−log10(P) >2) on 5D and 6B. For root number, two QTL were identified on 4A and 6A with four suggestive QTL on 1B, 3A, 3B and 4A. QTL for root angle and root number did not co-locate. Transgressive segregation was found for both traits. Known major height and phenology loci appear to have little effect on root angle and number. Presence or absence of the T1BL.1RS translocation did not significantly influence root angle. Broad sense heritability (h 2) was estimated as 50 % for root angle and 31 % for root number. Root angle QTL were found to be segregating between wheat cultivars adapted to the target production region indicating potential to select for root angle in breeding programs.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Mark Dieters for supplying the seed for the SeriM82 × Hartog doubled haploid population and Dr. Alan Peake for making available data on the T1BL/1RS translocation status of these lines. Thanks also to Dr. David Butler for statistical assistance and advice. We would also like to thank the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the Queensland State Government and the University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) for funding this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), Leslie Research Facility, PO Box 2282, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia

    Jack Christopher

  2. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Queensland (DAFFQ), Leslie Research Facility, PO Box 2282, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia

    Mandy Christopher, Raeleen Jennings, Shirley Jones & Susan Fletcher

  3. University of Queensland, QAAFI, Hermitage Research Facility, 604 Yangan Road, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia

    Andrew Borrell & David Jordan

  4. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Queensland (DAFFQ), Hermitage Research Facility, 604 Yangan Road, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia

    Emma Mace

  5. Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Str. 24, Tulln, 3430, Austria

    Ahmad M. Manschadi

  6. University of Queensland, QAAFI, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4067, Australia

    Graeme Hammer

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Christopher, J., Christopher, M., Jennings, R. et al. QTL for root angle and number in a population developed from bread wheats (Triticum aestivum) with contrasting adaptation to water-limited environments. Theor Appl Genet 126, 1563–1574 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-013-2074-0

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