Marker-trait associations for spike-related characters in a doubled haploid population of wheat

Abstract

Phenotypic assessment of yield and its component traits needs to be performed in replicated trials under multiple environments. Mapping populations such as doubled haploids (DHs) are suitable material for studying marker-trait associations, because they can be evaluated repeatedly in different years or in variable environments, thus having considerable potential for the identification of reliable quantitative trait loci. In the present study a DH mapping population, generated from the crossing of two hexaploid high yield potential wheat varieties, Savannah (UK) and Renesansa (SRB), was used to identify associations between five microsatellite markers and seven spike-related traits. Statistically significant associations were observed between marker GWM261 on 2DS chromosome and six spike-related traits: spike length, spikelet number per spike, sterile spikelet number per spike, grain weight, spike weight and spike index. The phenotypic variation explained by this marker was the highest for the trait spike length (from 8.3 to 24.7%).