Dissection and fine mapping of a major QTL for preharvest sprouting resistance in white wheat Rio Blanco

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is a major constraint to white wheat production. Previously, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) for PHS resistance in white wheat by using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross Rio Blanco/NW97S186. One QTL, QPhs.pseru-3A, showed a major effect on PHS resistance, and three simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were mapped in the QTL region. To determine the flanking markers for the QTL and narrow down the QTL to a smaller chromosome region, we developed a new fine mapping population of 1,874 secondary segregating F(2) plants by selfing an F6 RIL (RIL25) that was heterozygous in the three SSR marker loci. Segregation of PHS resistance in the population fitted monogenic inheritance. An additive effect of the QTL played a major role on PHS resistance, but a dominant effect was also observed. Fifty-six recombinants among the three SSR markers were identified in the population and selfed to produce homozygous recombinants or QTL near-isogenic lines (NIL). PHS evaluation of the recombinants delineated the QTL in the region close to Xbarc57 flanked by Xbarc321 and Xbarc12. To saturate the QTL region, 11 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were mapped in the QTL region with 7 AFLP co-segregated with Xbarc57 by using the NIL population. Dissection of the QTL as a Mendelian factor and saturation of the QTL region with additional markers created a solid foundation for positional cloning of the major QTL.