Abstract
Environmental and economical constraints in Europe will favour low nitrogen (N) input systems and wheat varieties adapted to moderate N deficiency. In this context, we studied the dynamics of genetic parameters according to N stress intensity and characterized the genetic determinants for plant tolerance to N deficiency. Thus, we combined N stress modelling with a genetic approach. Two hundred and twenty-two doubled haploid lines were experimented in the field for a range of nitrogen conditions. Those conditions were characterized by the Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) of Récital. Grain Yield (GY) and Kernel Number (KN) were assessed. For GY and KN, and for each line, factorial regressions using NNI of Récital as environmental index were performed. In addition, we assessed the sensitivity to N stress (slopes of the regression) and the performances under low N conditions (predicted values for a NNI of 0.5). QTL detection was performed on these parameters as well as on KN and GY measured in each environment. G × N variance increased with N stress intensity whereas heritability and genetic variance decreased. 11 QTL regions were detected: 3 were N supply-specific QTL (on linkage groups 2A2, 3A and 4B) while 4 contained QTL detected under N+ and under N− (2D1, 4B and 5A1). Out of these four, 2 coincided with QTL for factorial regression parameters (2D1 and 4B). Finally, 4 QTL were specific for factorial regression parameters (3B, 5A2 and 7B2). The role of genes commonly used in breeding programs (rht-B1 on 4B, and Ppd1 on 2D1) in plant adaptation to nitrogen constraint was highlighted. Future studies should focus on grain protein yield, another target for low-N breeding scheme.
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Laperche, A., Le Gouis, J., Hanocq, E. et al. Modelling nitrogen stress with probe genotypes to assess genetic parameters and genetic determinism of winter wheat tolerance to nitrogen constraint. Euphytica 161, 259–271 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-007-9433-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-007-9433-3