Detection of QTL for metabolic and agronomic traits in wheat with adjustments for variation at genetic loci that affect plant phenology

Camilla B Hill; Julian D Taylor; James Edwards; Diane Mather; Peter Langridge; Antony Bacic; Ute Roessner

doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.01.008

Detection of QTL for metabolic and agronomic traits in wheat with adjustments for variation at genetic loci that affect plant phenology

Plant Sci. 2015 Apr:233:143-154. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.01.008. Epub 2015 Jan 29.

Authors

Camilla B Hill¹, Julian D Taylor², James Edwards³, Diane Mather⁴, Peter Langridge⁵, Antony Bacic⁶, Ute Roessner⁷

Affiliations

¹ Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: camilla.hill@unimelb.edu.au.
² School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia. Electronic address: julian.taylor@adelaide.edu.au.
³ Australian Grain Technologies, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia. Electronic address: james.edwards@ausgraintech.com.
⁴ School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia; Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, The University of Adelaide, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia. Electronic address: diane.mather@adelaide.edu.au.
⁵ Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, The University of Adelaide, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia. Electronic address: peter.langridge@acpfg.com.au.
⁶ Metabolomics Australia, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: abacic@unimelb.edu.au.
⁷ Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Metabolomics Australia, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: u.roessner@unimelb.edu.au.

PMID: 25711822
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.01.008

Abstract

Mapping of quantitative trait loci associated with levels of individual metabolites (mQTL) was combined with the mapping of agronomic traits to investigate the genetic basis of variation and co-variation in metabolites, agronomic traits, and plant phenology in a field-grown bread wheat population. Metabolome analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry resulting in identification of mainly polar compounds, including secondary metabolites. A total of 558 metabolic features were obtained from the flag leaves of 179 doubled haploid lines, of which 197 features were putatively identified, mostly as alkaloids, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids. Coordinated genetic control was observed for several groups of metabolites, such as organic acids influenced by two loci on chromosome 7A. Five major phenology-related loci, which were introduced as cofactors in the analyses, differed in their impact upon metabolic and agronomic traits with QZad-aww-7A having more impact on the expression of both metabolite and agronomic QTL than Ppd-B1, Vrn-A1, Eps, and QZad-aww-7D. This QTL study validates the utility of combining agronomic and metabolomic traits as an approach to identify potential trait enhancement targets for breeding selection and reinforces previous results that demonstrate the importance of including plant phenology in the assessment of useful traits in this wheat mapping population.

Keywords: Drought; Metabolite; Phenology; Photoperiod; QTL; Wheat.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chromosome Mapping
Droughts
Genetic Variation
Genome, Plant
Linear Models
Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics*
Models, Genetic
Plant Leaves / genetics
Quantitative Trait Loci*
Quantitative Trait, Heritable
Triticum / genetics*
Triticum / metabolism*