Genome-wide association mapping for high temperature tolerance in wheat through 90k SNP array using physiological and...

Area of Science:

• Plant Genetics
• Crop Science
• Agronomy

Background:

• Improving wheat yield and ensuring food security necessitates breeding for heat tolerance.
• Understanding the genetic basis of physiological and yield traits under heat stress is critical for wheat breeding programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reveal the genetic basis of heat tolerance in wheat using genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
• To identify marker-trait associations (MTAs) for physiological and yield indices under normal and heat-stressed conditions.

Main Methods:

• A diverse panel of wheat genotypes was phenotyped for physiological and yield traits under normal and heat-stressed environments.
• High-density Illumina 90K Infinium SNPs array was used for genotyping.
• Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify significant marker-trait associations (MTAs).

Main Results:

• Significant variations and moderate to high heritability were observed for traits under both conditions.
• A strong positive correlation was found among physiological and yield attributes.
• A total of 320 significant MTAs were identified, with 151 in the heat-stressed environment. Three MTAs showed pleiotropic effects under combined conditions.

Conclusions:

• The study identified both previously reported and novel MTAs for heat tolerance in wheat.
• Identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can aid in developing heat-tolerant and high-yielding wheat genotypes.
• This research contributes to breeding efforts for sustainable food security by enhancing wheat's resilience to heat stress.