Spelt as a Genetic Resource for Yield Component Improvement in Bread Wheat

Abstract

Novel germplasm resources are required to broaden the genetic diversity of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for further yield improvement. In this study, the usefulness of spelt (T. spelta L.) as a genetic resource to improve yield components of bread wheat was determined. A recombinant inbred line mapping population of bread wheat Forno and spelt Oberkulmer was used to quantify the yield components. Subsequently, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for yield components, together with grain threshability traits, were identified. Oberkulmer had larger grains (in 2012 season), more fertile tillers, higher biomass, longer and laxer spikes than Forno. Quantitative trait locus analysis revealed six alleles for low threshability and two for tenacious glumes from the spelt, and the Q gene had major effects. Furthermore, 40 favorable alleles for yield components were detected from Oberkulmer, and 83% of them were independent of those for low threshability and tenacious glumes. Therefore, spelt is a useful genetic resource for yield component improvement of bread wheat, while maintaining the free‐threshing habit. In addition, most of QTL for grain number components were coincident with those for grain weight. Allelic analysis of the coincident QTL showed that increased grain number was associated with decreased grain weight, which explained their negative phenotypic relationships.

Molecular genetic characterization and association mapping in spelt wheat

“…In addition to its re‐establishment as crop itself, spelt has also been suggested as a genetic resource for wheat improvement (Xie et al. ). Valuable alleles not present in the wheat breeding germplasm, for example for disease resistances or quality traits, might be introgressed into wheat after their discovery in spelt.…”

“…Consequently, despite the lower yield as compared to bread wheat W€ urschum 2014, Longin et al 2016), spelt can be an economically attractive crop, but requires the establishment of stable product chains . In addition to its re-establishment as crop itself, spelt has also been suggested as a genetic resource for wheat improvement (Xie et al 2015). Valuable alleles not present in the wheat breeding germplasm, for example for disease resistances or quality traits, might be introgressed into wheat after their discovery in spelt.…”

Genetic pathways controlling inflorescence architecture and development in wheat and barley

“…The Q allele also prevents grain loss that occurs in emmer and einkorn due to brittle inflorescences that shatter into spikelets at maturity (Salamini et al 2002). It has also been shown recently that the Q allele increases grain yield, grains m À2 and thousand grain weight, while exhibiting a decrease in grain per spike, relative to plants with the q allele (Xie et al 2015;Xie et al 2018).…”

Besides and Beyond Flowering: Other Roles of euAP2 Genes in Plant Development

“…Triticum aestivum RICE STARCH REGULATOR 1 (TaRSR1) an orthologue of RSR1 has also been reported to negatively regulate a group of important starch synthesis related genes during endosperm development in wheat [35]. In another study, Liu et al (2016) [36], used barley stripe mosaic virus-virus induced gene-silencing (BSMV-VIGS) to silence TaRSR1.…”