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Meta-QTL analysis of the genetic control of ear emergence in elite European winter wheat germplasm

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Abstract

Variation in ear emergence time is critical for the adaptation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to specific environments. The aim of this study was to identify genes controlling ear emergence time in elite European winter wheat germplasm. Four doubled haploid populations derived from the crosses: Avalon × Cadenza, Savannah × Rialto, Spark × Rialto, and Charger × Badger were selected which represent diversity in European winter wheat breeding programmes. Ear emergence time was recorded as the time from 1st May to heading in replicated field trials in the UK, France and Germany. Genetic maps based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) and Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers were constructed for each population. One hundred and twenty-seven significant QTL were identified in the four populations. These effects were condensed into 19 meta-QTL projected onto a consensus SSR map of wheat. These effects are located on chromosomes 1B (2 meta-QTL), 1D, 2A (2 meta-QTL), 3A, 3B (2 meta-QTL), 4B, 4D, 5A (2 meta-QTL), 5B, 6A, 6B 7A (2 meta-QTL), 7B and 7D. The identification of environmentally robust earliness per se effects will facilitate the fine tuning of ear emergence in predictive wheat breeding programmes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Simon Berry of Limagrain UK for the supply of SSR data for the Savannah x Rialto population. The work was supported by funding from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the UK Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the latter through a grant for the Wheat Genetic Improvement Network.

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Author notes

  1. Sebastien Faure

    Present address: INRA, Institute de la Recherche Agronomique, 234 avenue du Brezet, 63100, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK

    Simon Griffiths, James Simmonds, Michelle Leverington, Yingkun Wang, Lesley Fish, Liz Sayers, Leodie Alibert, Simon Orford, Luzie Wingen, Laurence Herry, David Laurie, Lorelei Bilham & John Snape

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  1. Simon Griffiths
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  2. James Simmonds
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Correspondence to Simon Griffiths.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Dubcovsky.

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Griffiths, S., Simmonds, J., Leverington, M. et al. Meta-QTL analysis of the genetic control of ear emergence in elite European winter wheat germplasm. Theor Appl Genet 119, 383–395 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-009-1046-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-009-1046-x

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