Introduction

Lipoxygenases (EC 1.13.11.12., LOX) are isoenzymes that contain non-heme iron and are widely found in many plants. They catalyze the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids with Cis, Cis-1, and 4-pentadiene structure to produce polyunsaturated hydroperoxides with conjugated double bonds (Guo et al. 2017; Boyington et al. 1993).

The main stored grain crop in China is wheat, and the good quality of stored grain is of great importance to food security. However, various factors affect the storage quality of wheat, including the climatic conditions during harvest season, air drying, transportation, storage, and other external environmental conditions and internal factors such as oxidase (Borrelli et al. 2008). Some studies have confirmed the effect of LOX activity on the storage quality of wheat. Trufanov et al. (2007) reported that low LOX activity was beneficial to the preservation of the nutritional components of flour and its products. It was also found that reducing LOX activity is an effective method for long-term conservation of germplasm resources, because low LOX activity can effectively reduce the oxidation reaction of seed lipids and extend the storage period (Leenhardt et al. 2006).

Studies have shown that the LOX gene family exists in plants (Feussner and Wasternack 2002). Recently, many researches have been conducted on LOX gene mapping, cloning, isolation, and identification of wheat using molecular marker technology. In the last century, the location of the LOX gene of common wheat was on chromosomes 4 and 5 (Zhou et al. 2019; Hessler et al. 2002). Somers et al. (2003, 2004) and Geng et al. (2011a) developed and indicated several SSR markers interlinked with LOX active QTL on chromosomes 4B and 1A, respectively. Pshenichnikova et al. (2008) believed that an AFLP molecular marker Xbcd1262, located in 4BS, was closely linked to LOX activity. Two complementary dominant markers LOX16 and LOX18 were used on the developed 4B to detect the LOX activity (Geng et al. 2011a, b, c; Zhang et al. 2016). Meanwhile, great progress has been made in the study of the locus of the LOX gene family function. Lpx-B1 locus and variation types on the durum wheat 4BS chromosome were identified and believed that different variation types at different loci had significant effects on the LOX activity (Hessler et al. 2002). Lpx-3, Lpx-B1.1, and Lpx-B1.2 genes in durum wheat were homogeneously cloned (Carrera et al. 2007) and found the large fragment deletion of Lpx-B1.2 gene could significantly reduce the LOX activity. Furthermore, a new gene Lpx-B1.3, which is a pair of alleles to Lpx-B1.2 at the locus of Lpx-B1, was detected (Verlotta et al. 2010). More and more studies demonstrated that a multigene network and also major genes regulate the LOX activity in wheat grains (Feng et al. 2010; Geng et al. 2011j; Feng et al. 2012) and the phenotypic differences may be due to the presence of different alleles in different germplasm resources (Gupta et al. 2005). Therefore, it is necessary to determine elite allelic genes associated with the LOX activity in wheat grains.

Considering the importance of association mapping for dissecting the complex quantitative traits of wheat, SSR markers were used to analyze the population structure of 123 wheat materials based on the genotype and environment analysis and the interaction between genotypes and the environment. Furthermore, SSR markers associated with LOX activity in wheat were discussed through correlation analysis between SSR markers and target traits, so as to provide a reference for related molecular-assisted selection.

Materials and methods

Plant materials

Materials used in multiyear and multipoint experiments include Zhongyou 9507, E-en 4, Lumai 22, Wan Mai 48, Neixiang 188, Yannong 19, Haoyou 9409, Zhou Mai 16, Yang Mai 15, Huaiyin 9467. They were planted in four test sites in Hefei, Luan, Fengtai, and Lingbi, Anhui Province, over 2 years. In this experiment, block groups were designed randomly with three repetitions. Planting, field management, and harvest were performed according to local cultivation requirements. A total of 123 wheat germplasm resources were used for correlation analysis, which were sown in Research Farm of Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 31° 52′ N, 117°17′ E, during the winter season of the years of 2013–2014, 2015–2016, and 2016–2017. The location belongs to subtropical humid monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of 15.7 ℃ and an average annual precipitation of 940–1000 mm. However, during 2015–2016, the temperature at wheat grain filling stage was higher than that in previous years, and the grain water content was lower when wheat was harvested. A randomized block design was used, with two repetitions, 2 m in length, 25 cm in-row spacing, and 100 seeds per row. All the materials were harvested and shelled in the following June, and the seeds were stored in safe water for 3 months after harvest.

Experiment method

Determination of LOX activity in wheat

A spectrophotometer was used to determine the LOX activity of the harvested wheat test material. Wheat grains of each variety were randomly selected to grind using a Perten 3100 laboratory mill (Perten Instruments, Hägersten, Sweden) equipped with a 1.5-mm metal mesh screen to obtain whole wheat flour with similar particle size.

Enzyme extracting solution: 2.5 ml phosphate buffer (0.1 mol L−1, pH 7.5) was added into 0.5 g of whole wheat flour. Then, this was stored at 4℃ for 30 min, and it was shaken every 5 min to dissolve the flour completely with the extracting solution. After that, the solution was centrifuged at 8000 r/min and 4 °C for 10 min, the enzyme extracting solution was extracted as supernatant.

Substrate configuration: first, 0.5 ml Tween was dissolved in 10 mL boric acid buffer (0.05 mol L−1, pH 9.0). Second, 0.5 ml linoleic acid was added dropwise into the mixture, and the emulsion was formed. About 1.3 mL of 1 mol L−1 NaOH solution was added until the solution was clear. Finally, 90 ml boric acid buffer (0.05 mol L−1, pH 9.0) was added, and HCl was used to adjust the pH to 7.0, and then the volume was determined to 200 ml.

Reaction system: 0.3 mL linoleate substrate and 60 L enzyme extract were added to 2.5 mL sodium acetate buffer (0.05 mol L−1, pH 5.6).

Enzymatic determination: the absorbance of reaction solution △A was determined at 234 nm (△A is the change of light absorption value within the 30 s, and the active unit was expressed as AU/ (min g)).

LOX calculation formula is as follow:

$$ A = \left[ {{\text{OD}}\left( {30{\text{S}}} \right) - {\text{OD}}\left( {15{\text{S}}} \right)} \right]/0.01, $$

where A is the unit of enzyme activity, OD (30S) is the OD value of reaction 30S, OD (15S) is the OD value of reaction 15S, and 0.01 is a unit constant of enzyme activity.

Extraction of genomic DNA from wheat

SDS-TRis saturated phenol method (Ahmed et al. 2009) was used to extract genomic DNA from the young leaves harvested in 2017, and the DNA concentration and purity were detected and stored in a refrigerator at − 20 ℃ for use.

Screening of SSR primers

A total of 275 SSR primers for the whole wheat genome were obtained from Graingenes (http://wheat.pw.usda.gov/GG2/index.shtm/) website. Then, 10 wheat materials with the far relative relationship were selected to screen the synthesized primers. Molecular data were determined using 1192 pairs of primers with good polymorphism and clear bands.

PCR amplification

About 10 uL buffer including 1.0uL dNTPs with concentration of 2.5 mmol L−1, 0.8ul 10 × buffer (including 2.0 mmol L−1 Mg2+), 0.4uL upper primers and 0.4uL lower primers with concentration of 10 mmol L−1, 0.10uL 5UuL−1 TaqDNA polymerase 0.10, 2.0 uL template with concentration of 50 ~ 60 ng uL−1, and 5.3UL double distilled water was used for PCR amplification method.

Data analysis

Variation analysis of LOX activity in wheat grains: The mean value, standard deviation, and variation coefficient were determined using EXCEL software. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to evaluate the variance analysis and correlation analysis.

Analysis of elite allelic variation locus of LOX in wheat: To analyze the interpopulation genetic structure and determine the population structure and subsequent analysis strategies, 84 pairs of independent markers uniformly distributed throughout the whole genome of wheat without linkage were selected from 192 pairs of polymorphic SSR primers. The structure of the test group was determined using the STRUCTURE2.3.4 Software hybrid model. K value is taken as 2–10, and each K value is run separately for 6 times. According to the K value obtained from software analysis, the Bayesian method is used to estimate the number of subgroups of natural population materials.

The general linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM) of TASSEL software were used to analyze association analysis between primer markers and phenotypic traits. Significant (P < 0.05) marker loci associated with the two models were selected, and the interpretation rate of these marker loci to phenotypic variation was calculated.

Results

Effects of genotype, location, year, and their interactions on the LOX activity

The results obtained on performing variance analysis of two-year and four-point experiment (Table 1) show that the LOX activity of 10 wheat varieties, reached a significant difference in years. The effect of variety × year and location × variety × year reached an extremely significant level, while the difference of LOX activity between location and the interaction effect of location × year did not reach a significant level. As shown in Table 1, the percentage the sum of squares of variety in the total sum of squares is highest, up to 26.1, suggested genotype differences between breeds greatly affect LOX activity. While the location has the least effect, and the effect of the interaction of location, variety, and the year is more important than that of variety and year. As a result, it indicated that the difference of varieties (genotypes) had the greatest effect on the LOX activity of wheat, which is consistent with the study results of Borrelli et al. (2003).

Table 1 Variance analysis of genotype, environment, and their interactions on wheat Lipoxygenase activity
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Phenotypic analysis of LOX activity in natural populations of wheat

Statistical parameters of LOX activity of 123 wheat varieties in 3 years is shown in Table 2. The maximum, minimum, and average values of LOX activity of the tested wheat varieties in 3 years are different, especially 2016 was lower than the other two year due to the low moisture content of harvested grains. While the variation coefficients are higher than 20%. This suggests that the LOX activity of the tested wheat materials showed a significant difference, and wide variation range, with a great potential for genetic improvement.

Table 2 Distribution of LOX activity in wheat cultivars in different years
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Population structure analysis

To evaluate the natural population structure, 83 pairs of independent SSR molecular markers uniformly distributed throughout the whole genome of wheat were selected from 192 pairs of SSR primers. The population structure of 123 wheat materials was determined using Structure 2.3.4's hybrid model. K values were selected from 1 to 10, and each K value was run separately for 6 times. As per the obtained K value, the number of subgroups of 123 wheat materials was estimated using the Bayesian method. When K = 2, the maximum inflection point appears in the line graph, indicating that the group can be divided into two subgroups (Fig. 1). In addition, when K = 2, Structure2.3.4 software plots the cluster graph using the Q value (Fig. 2). Different colors represent different subgroups of the natural population of wheat (Fig. 2). The horizontal axis represents 123 wheat natural population materials, and the vertical axis represents the probability that the wheat material is distributed to two subgroups.

Fig. 1
figure 1

True K of four groups (K = 2) generated by STRUCTURE

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Two populations inferred by STRUCYURE analysis

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Association analysis

Significant marker loci (P < 0.05) associated with both models were selected, and the interpretation rate of these marker loci to the phenotype was calculated. With the K value of kinship obtained from Structure 2.3.4 analysis as the covariable, the GLM and MLM using TASSEL2.1 software were used to conduct SSR primer marker-trait associations (MTAs) on the natural population of 123 wheat materials. About 22 marker loci associated with LOX activity (P < 0.05) were detected, and results are shown in Table 3. Among them, there were 12 molecular marker loci associated with 2014, located at 1BL (BARC240 and BARC302), 3BS (WMC78), 4AL (BARC327), 4BL (BARC109), 5AL (BARC117 and BARC232), 6B(BARC136), 6BL(GWM219), 7AL(WMC488), and 7BL(WMC517), respectively. About 3.77 ~ 7.93% of phenotype was contributed by each marker locus, of which BARC117 on chromosome 5AL contributed 7.93% to the phenotype. Only three molecular marker loci were associated with 2016, located at 3BS (BARC139), 7AL(WMC488), and 7BL(BARC267). The contribution of each marker locus to phenotype was 4.82 ~ 6.50%. There were 16 molecular marker loci associated with 2017, located at 1BL(BARC240 and BARC302), 2AL(GWM312), 2DS(BARC168), 4AL(BARC327), 4BL(BARC109), 4D(XMAG2944), 5AL(BARC117 and BARC232), 5BL(BARC156), 5DL(BARC320), 6B(BARC136), 7A(BARC281), 7AL(BARC108) and WMC488) and 7DS(GWM111). GWM312 made a large contribution of 12.13% to phenotypes.

Table 3 Marker loci associated with LOX activity detected in mixed linear models (P < 0.05) and their contribution to phenotypes
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Only one molecular marker locus, WMC488, was detected to be correlated with LOX activity in 3 years. In the 2 years, 7 molecular marker loci, namely BARC240, BARC302, BARC327, BARC109, BARC117, BARC232, and BARC136, were detected. The other 14 molecular marker loci were detected in only 1 year. Although a stable QTL for LOX activity in wheat grains was observed, the interaction between genotype and environment also significantly affects the LOX activity; this result is consistent with the results of variance analysis presented in Table 1.

Discussion

A set of standard procedures are recognized for the correlation analysis method, according to which natural population materials or seed resources with the extensive genetic background are selected, and population structure analysis is conducted. The most basic step of association analysis is to investigate phenotypic traits so that whether phenotypic traits are controlled by heredity can be determined and which environmental conditions and gene effects are stronger can be evaluated. The correlation analysis method cannot be used if the environmental effect is dominant. In results of this study demonstrates that genotype controls the LOX activity, which was determined by multiyear and multipoint experiments; this was consistent with previous studies (Borrelli et al 2008; Geng et al. 2011a, b, c). LOX activity in wheat grains was identified as a heritable trait that could be used for quality improvement.

LOX gene family exists in most plants(Barone et al. 1999; Liavonchanka and Feussner 2006; Carrera et al. 2007; Pshenichnikova et al. 2008).Allele variation at different loci had different effects on LOX activity of wheat (Geng et al. 2011a, b, c; Zhang et al. 2015). In this study, 22 SSR marker loci significantly correlated with LOX activity of wheat grains were obtained according to the GLM and the MLM of TASSEL software. A total of 7 significant marker loci accounting for 31.2%, were observed in homologous groups 4 and. This result is consistent with previous studies (Hessler et al. 2002; Zhou et al. 2019). In the meanwhile, more marker loci related to LOX activity was observed on the homologous group 7. The 7A, 7B, and 7D chromosomes were associated with 3, 2, and 1 marker loci, respectively, therefore, gene loci for editing LOX in wheat grains is speculated to be on chromosome 7B. The other 8 markers were significantly different from the previous results of LOX gene localization. Therefore, further verification of the reliability of the markers should be carried out.

In this paper, 2-year and four points, experiments were conducted. The effect of genotype, environment, and interaction between genotype and environment on LOX activity was the genotype > interaction between genotype and environment > environment. The results of correlation analysis show that the LOX activity of wheat varieties was consistent between different years, and the LOX activity of wheat was speculated to be largely controlled by genotypes. Association analysis also identified 22 SSR molecular marker loci with significant and extremely significant LOX activity. Among them, 12 marker loci were detected in 2014, and BARC117 on chromosome 5AL contributed to 7.93% of the phenotype. In 2016, only 3 molecular marker loci were identified to be associated and in 2017, 16 molecular marker loci were associated, and GWM312 contributed to 12.13% of the phenotype (The molecular marker locus, WMC488, was associated with LOX activity, which was detected in 3 years. Seven molecular marker loci were detected in both two years, while the other 14 molecular marker loci were detected in only 1 year. A total of 7 significant marker loci accounting for 31.2%, were observed in homologous groups 4 and 5. Six marker loci related to LOX activity were observed in homologous group 7. Also, gene loci regulating the LOX activity in wheat grains might be present.