Variation of TaMyb10 and their function on grain color and pre-harvest sprouting resistance of wheat

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a significant threat to global food security due to its association with losses in both yield and quality. Among the genes involved in PHS resistance in wheat, PHS-3D (TaMyb10-D) plays a crucial role. Here, we characterized the sequence variations of TaMyb10 genes in 416 bread wheat and 302 Aegilops tauschii accessions. Within TaMyb10-A sequences, we identified a deletion ranging from 214 to 305 bp in the signal and amino acid coding region, present in 61.3% of the accessions. Similarly, 79.3% of the TaMyb10-B sequences within the third exon region exhibited a 19 bp deletion. Additionally, 40.8% of the accessions lacked the 2.4 Mb fragment (in/del mutations) on Chr3D, where TaMyb10-D/PHS-3D was located. Interestingly, the geographical distribution of accessions showed little correlation with the divergence of TaMyb10. TaMyb10-A-III^Dele, TaMyb10-B-IV^Dele, and TaMyb10-D-V^Dele genotypes were prevalent in wheat populations across continents. Despite their structural variations, the five distinct protein types exhibited comparable ability to bind the promoters of downstream genes in the flavonoid and ABA pathways, such as CHS, DFR, and NCED. Furthermore, the combination of TaMyb10 homologs was significantly associated with grain color and germination percentages. Accessions exclusively harboring TaMyb10-D displayed red seed color and reduced germination percentages, indicating the predominant role of TaMyb10-D compared to TaMyb10-A and TaMyb10-B. This comprehensive investigation enhances our understanding of the structural variations and functional divergence of TaMyb10, providing valuable insights and resources for improving PHS resistance in wheat.