This study is to excavate embryo-related quantitative trait loci (QTL) with potential breeding value, to explore the genetic relationship between embryo and other agronomic traits in tetraploid wheat, and finally to aim at laying an important foundation for the fine mapping and breeding utilization of embryo-related traits in the future.

A total of 121 F₈ recombinant inbred lines (RIL) constructed by crossing tetraploid durum wheat (Ailanmai) and wild emmer wheat (LM001) were used. This RIL population was planted in five different environments including Chongzhou (2018-2020), Wenjiang (2020), and Ya'an (2020) in Sichuan Province for phenotypic evaluation of embryo length (EL), embryo width (EW), embryo length/embryo width (EL/EW), embryo length/kernel length (EL/KL), embryo width/kernel width (EW/KW), and embryo area (EA). QTL mapping was performed based on a genetic linkage map constructed based on the wheat 55K SNP.

The embryo size-related traits showed approximately normal distribution in the RIL population satisfying the genetic characteristics of quantitative traits. A total of 27 QTL for embryo size-related traits were detected in five environments over three years. Among them, seven ones controlling EL could contribute 7.75%-21.74% of phenotypic variation. Seven QTLs controlling EW could explain 7.67%-33.29% of phenotypic variation. Five stable and major QTLs (QEL.sicau-AM-3B, QEW.sicau-AM-2B, QEW/KW.sicau-AM-2B, QEL/EW.sicau- AM-2B-1 and QEA.sicau-AM-2B) were identified, and they explained 11.88%-18.99%, 21.77%-29.41%, 8.80%-24.92%, 12.79%- 25.69% and 10.47%-15.22% of phenotypic variation, respectively. In addition, four QTL-rich regions were identified in the embryo size-related loci mentioned above. The QTL controlling EL/KL and EL was located on chromosome 1B, that for EW, EL/EW, EW/KW, and EA was located on 2B, that controlling EL and EA was on 3B, and that controlling EL/EW and EW/KW was on 6B. Embryo size was significantly and positively correlated with kernel size. Further, the major QTL for EL, QEL.sicau-AM-3B was co-located with that for kernel length identified previously, but that for EW QEW.sicau-AM-2B was independent of that for kernel width. Four genes likely involved in regulation of embryo size were identified in intervals where major QTL were mapped.

Five stable and major QTLs were identified: QEL.sicau-AM-3B, QEW.sicau-AM-2B, QEW/KW.sicau-AM-2B, QEL/EW.sicau-AM-2B-1, QEA.sicau-AM-2B, among which QEW.sicau-AM-2B may be novel.

Spike length (SL) plays an important role in determining spike structure and yield potential of wheat. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for spike length were excavated and their genetic effects were further analyzed to provide theoretical basis for molecular breeding.

This study consisted of a population of 198 F₆ recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from the cross between the natural mutant msf and the cultivar Chuannong 16 (MC population). The MC population and its parents were planted in five different environments including Wenjiang in 2021 and 2022 (2021WJ and 2022WJ); Chongzhou in 2021 and 2022 (2021CZ and 2022CZ); and Ya’an in 2021 (2021YA) for spike length measurement. The 16K SNP chip-based constructed high-quality and high-density genetic linkage maps were used to map QTL for spike length. Additionally, the genotype of the flanking markers for the major spike length QTL was used to analyze its genetic effect on yield-related traits and thus to evaluate its potentiality for yield improvement.

A total of 14 QTL for spike length were identified and they were mainly distributed on chromosomes 1A (one), 1B (one), 2B (one), 3D (three), 4A (one), 4D (two), 5A (one), 5B (one), 7A (one), 7B (one), and 7D (one). Among them, QSl.sau.1A was detected in four environments and the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) value, explained 6.46% to 20.12% of the phenotypic variation, and thus was regarded as a major QTL. The positive allele at QSl.sau.1A came from the parental line msf. QTL analysis across multiple environments also detected QSl.sau.1A, indicating it exhibits minimal environmental influence and represents a major and stably expressed QTL. The effect of QSl.sau.1A was successfully verified in two populations with different genetic backgrounds. Genetic effects analysis showed that the positive allele of QSl.sau.1A showed a significant effect on improving grain number per spike (12.68%), grain weight per spike (14.99%), 1000-grain weight (5.79%), flag leaf width (2.94%), spikelet number (1.48%), and flowering date (0.61%), and a significant effect of reducing plant height (-6.47%) and effective tiller number (-36.11%).

A major and stably expressed spike length QTL, QSl.sau.1A, was detected on chromosome 1A. Its positive allele significantly increased grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, thousand grain weight, and spikelet number per spike, indicating its great breeding value.