Pleiotropic effects of the wheat domestication gene Q on yield and grain morphology

Xie, Quan; Li, Na; Yang, Yang; Lv, Yulong; Yao, Hongni; Wei, Rong; Sparkes, Debbie L.; Ma, Zhengqiang

Abstract

Transformation from q to Q during wheat domestication functioned outside the boundary of threshability to increase yield, grains m−2, grain weight and roundness, but to reduce grains per spike/spikelet.
Mutation of the Q gene, well-known affecting wheat spike structure, represents a key domestication step in the formation of today’s free-threshing, economically important wheats. In a previous study, multiple yield components and spike characteristics were associated with the Q gene interval in the bread wheat ‘Forno’ × European spelt ‘Oberkulmer’ recombinant inbred line population. Here, we reported that this interval was also associated with grain yield, grains m−2, grain morphology, and spike dry weight at anthesis. To clarify the roles of Q in agronomic trait performance, a functional marker for the Q gene was developed. Analysis of allelic effects showed that the bread wheat Q allele conferred free-threshing habit, soft glumes, and short and compact spikes compared with q. In addition, the Q allele contributed to higher grain yield, more grains m−2, and higher thousand grain weight, whereas q contributed to more grains per spike/spikelet likely resulting from increased preanthesis spike growth. For grain morphology, the Q allele was associated with reduced ratio of grain length to height, indicating a rounder grain. These results are supported by analysis of four Q mutant lines in the Chinese Spring background. Therefore, the transition from q to Q during wheat domestication had profound effects on grain yield and grain shape evolution as well, being a consequence of pleiotropy.

Citation

Xie, Q., Li, N., Yang, Y., Lv, Y., Yao, H., Wei, R., …Ma, Z. (in press). Pleiotropic effects of the wheat domestication gene Q on yield and grain morphology. Planta, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2847-4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 12, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jan 23, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 21, 2019
• Journal: Planta
• Print ISSN: 0032-0935
• Electronic ISSN: 0032-0935
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2847-4
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/906182
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00425-018-2847-4/fulltext.html
• Additional Information: This is a pre-print of an article published in Planta. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2847-4