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Genetic Characterization of Spring Wheat Germplasm for Macro-, Microelements and Trace Metals
Alexey Morgounov1, Huihui Li2,3, Sergey Shepelev1
1Agronomy Department, Omsk State Agrarian University, 644008 Omsk, Russia.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 26, 2022
Summary
This study identified genomic regions linked to essential nutrient levels in wheat grains using genome-wide association studies. These findings can guide marker-assisted breeding for improved wheat biofortification.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Genetics
- Plant Breeding
Background:
- Wheat is a global staple food and a key target for biofortification to enhance nutritional value.
- Understanding the genetic basis of nutrient accumulation in wheat is crucial for improving human health through diet.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genomic regions controlling micro- and macroelement concentrations in wheat grain.
- To discover marker-element associations (MEAs) and pleiotropic SNPs for targeted breeding of nutrient-dense wheat.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was used on 135 diverse wheat accessions.
- Phenotyping for 15 grain elements was performed across two environments.
- Genome-wide association analysis identified 2997 marker-element associations (MEAs) from 33,808 SNPs.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in grain nutrient concentrations were observed across accessions.
- MEAs were identified for 15 elements, with the highest for Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S), Phosphorus (P), and Nickel (Ni).
- Pleiotropic SNPs associated with multiple elements (Mg, P, Cadmium (Cd), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn)) were found on chromosomes 1B, 2B, and 6B.
Conclusions:
- The identified MEAs provide valuable genetic targets for improving wheat grain nutrient content.
- These findings support the use of marker-assisted breeding strategies for wheat biofortification.
- Candidate genes associated with nutrient transport and metabolism were highlighted for future research.
