The Effect of Photoperiod Genes and Flowering Time on Yield and Yield Stability in Durum Wheat

Abstract

This study analysed the effect of flowering time as influenced by photoperiod sensitivity genes on yield and yield stability in durum wheat. Twenty-three spring genotypes harbouring different allele combinations at Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 were grown in 15 field experiments at three sites at latitudes from 41° to 19° N (Spain, Mexico-North and Mexico-South). Low temperature and solar radiation before flowering and long day length during grain-filling characteristic for the Spanish site resulted in high grain number/m2 (GN) and yield (GY), while a moderate GN combined with high solar radiation during grain-filling at Mexico-North led to heavier grains. Allele combination GS100-Ppd-A1a/Ppd-B1a reduced the flowering time up to nine days when compared with Ppd-A1b/Ppd-B1a. Differences in flowering time caused by Ppd-A1/Ppd-B1 allele combinations did not affect yield. Combinations GS105-Ppd-A1a/Ppd-B1b and Ppd-A1b/Ppd-B1b resulted in the highest GN, linked to spikelets/spike, which was higher in GS105-Ppd-A1a/Ppd-B1b due to more grains/spikelet. Flowering time caused by Eps had a minor effect on GN, spikes/m2 and grains/spike, but late flowering resulted in reduced grain weight and GY. Allele combinations harbouring alleles conferring a similar photoperiod sensitivity response at Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 resulted in greater yield stability than combinations that carry alleles conferring a different response. Allele combination GS100-Ppd-A1a/Ppd-B1a was the most suitable in terms of yield and yield stability of durum wheat cultivated under irrigation within the studied latitudes.

Tuning of meristem maturation rate increases yield in multiple Triticum aestivum cultivars

“…These results align with recent reports demonstrating that TaVRN1 is promoting reproductive transition and maturation of the wheat spike meristem (Li et al, 2019;Li, Zhou, et al, 2021). The classical photoperiod-sensitivity (Ppd) genes in wheat (Arjona et al, 2020) do not exhibit changes in expression under photoperiod treatments in this experiment.…”

“…Adaptation of crops to diverse environments has been accomplished by indirect selection of photoperiod and temperature response loci. Genes underlying such loci have since been positionally cloned including rice GHD7, maize ZCN genes and wheat Ppd genes (Arjona et al, 2020 ; Castelletti et al, 2020 ; Hake & Ross‐Ibarra, 2015 ; Sun et al, 2022 ).…”

Dissection of the genetic basis of genotype-by-environment interactions for grain yield and main agronomic traits in Iranian bread wheat landraces and cultivars

“…Major QTLs with pleiotropic effects on chromosomes 3B and 7B have also been confirmed 59 . One study concluded that a specific combination of photoperiod genes increases the yield stability of durum wheat 14 . Also, the best allelic combination using stepwise regression in markers identified by genome-wide association mapping (GWAM) can lead to increased stability and yield in wheat 50 .…”

“…On the other hand, the performance of stable genotype with a dynamic concept in response to different environments is parallel to the average response of all studied genotypes 8 . Therefore, the use of dynamic stability during breeding programs leads to increased resilience to climate change in new varieties 14 . So far, about 50 different stability statistics, both parametric and non-parametric, have been used.…”

“…In a genetic architecture study, the grain yield stability of wheat and other traits using the GWAS approach identified several SNPs on different chromosomes that affected their mean traits and stability 9 . In addition, the role of functional markers, including photoperiod genes, in performance stability has been revealed 14 . The combination of GWAS and genomic prediction suggested that dissecting the genetic basis of yield stability would be more complex than the one in grain yield 29 .…”