Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) is an important staple crop which is under increasing pressure to meet global food demands. Comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of the grain yield potential, and its associated genetic regulators is fundamental to tailor climate smart crops. For this purpose, the Global Durum Genetic Resource (GDGR, https://wheat.pw.usda.gov/GG3/global_durum_genomic_resources) germplasm, a collaborative and comprehensive tetraploid collection encompassing the Tetraploid Germplasm Collection (TGC, Maccaferri et al., 2019) and the Global Durum Panel (GDP, Mazzucotelli et al., 2020), containing ca. 500 durum cultivars, ca. 1000 T. turgidum landraces and ca. 500 domesticated and wild emmer was assembled, profiled with the 90K SNP assay to explore the genetic diversity for grain yield related characters. The collections were evaluated in the field trials across multiple environments (Cadriano, Fiorenzuola d´Arda, Grosseto) over three seasons (2019-2021) in 1m2 plot in an unreplicated modified augmented design with randomly distributed checks. For each accession, ten main spikes were sampled to collect spike morphology, spike fertility and grain features. Threshed seeds from spikes were weighted and scanned for grain size, grain shape and grain color traits. There were significant phenotypic variations in the germplasm i.e., number of fertile spikelets and the number of fertile florets per central spikelets ranged from 12-31 and 1-6, respectively. High variability was observed in TGC indicating broader range of diversity within the ancestral wheat gene pool. Currently, Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) is being carried out in both germplasm collections for identifying key genetic loci associated with grain yield in durum wheat and the latest results will be presented at the conference. Major QTLs emerging from GWA study were located on chromosome 2A with strong bibliographic evidence for grain number-related traits such as the fertile spikelet number, the number of fertile florets per centralspikelet. On the other hand, two evident peaks were detected on chromosomes 6A and 7B for grain size and weight related traits. Grain quality analysis on the stored samples started with the aim to characterize the collection for key features related to protein, gluten, starch and health and nutritional quality value. Aknowledgements. Research supported by “CerealMed”- Enhancing diversity in Mediterranean cereal farming systems project, funded by PRIMA2019, the H2020 FP7 “INNOVAR” - Next generation variety testing for improved cropping on European farmland and “PLAN’EAT” - Food systems transformation towards healthy and sustainable dietary behaviour
Carini, E., Zeng, X., Farooq, M.A., Novi, J.B., Campana, M., Bozzoli, M., et al. (2024). DISSECTING PLANT DEVELOPMENTAL TRAITS FOR GRAIN YIELD IMPROVEMENT IN TETRAPLOID GERMPLASM: A FOCUS ON SPIKE FERTILITY AND GRAIN SIZE/SHAPE.
DISSECTING PLANT DEVELOPMENTAL TRAITS FOR GRAIN YIELD IMPROVEMENT IN TETRAPLOID GERMPLASM: A FOCUS ON SPIKE FERTILITY AND GRAIN SIZE/SHAPE
CARINI E.;ZENG X.;FAROOQ M. A.;NOVI J. B.;CAMPANA M.;BOZZOLI M.;DE SARIO F.;CABONI M. F.;TUBEROSA R.;MACCAFERRI M.
2024
Abstract
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) is an important staple crop which is under increasing pressure to meet global food demands. Comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of the grain yield potential, and its associated genetic regulators is fundamental to tailor climate smart crops. For this purpose, the Global Durum Genetic Resource (GDGR, https://wheat.pw.usda.gov/GG3/global_durum_genomic_resources) germplasm, a collaborative and comprehensive tetraploid collection encompassing the Tetraploid Germplasm Collection (TGC, Maccaferri et al., 2019) and the Global Durum Panel (GDP, Mazzucotelli et al., 2020), containing ca. 500 durum cultivars, ca. 1000 T. turgidum landraces and ca. 500 domesticated and wild emmer was assembled, profiled with the 90K SNP assay to explore the genetic diversity for grain yield related characters. The collections were evaluated in the field trials across multiple environments (Cadriano, Fiorenzuola d´Arda, Grosseto) over three seasons (2019-2021) in 1m2 plot in an unreplicated modified augmented design with randomly distributed checks. For each accession, ten main spikes were sampled to collect spike morphology, spike fertility and grain features. Threshed seeds from spikes were weighted and scanned for grain size, grain shape and grain color traits. There were significant phenotypic variations in the germplasm i.e., number of fertile spikelets and the number of fertile florets per central spikelets ranged from 12-31 and 1-6, respectively. High variability was observed in TGC indicating broader range of diversity within the ancestral wheat gene pool. Currently, Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) is being carried out in both germplasm collections for identifying key genetic loci associated with grain yield in durum wheat and the latest results will be presented at the conference. Major QTLs emerging from GWA study were located on chromosome 2A with strong bibliographic evidence for grain number-related traits such as the fertile spikelet number, the number of fertile florets per centralspikelet. On the other hand, two evident peaks were detected on chromosomes 6A and 7B for grain size and weight related traits. Grain quality analysis on the stored samples started with the aim to characterize the collection for key features related to protein, gluten, starch and health and nutritional quality value. Aknowledgements. Research supported by “CerealMed”- Enhancing diversity in Mediterranean cereal farming systems project, funded by PRIMA2019, the H2020 FP7 “INNOVAR” - Next generation variety testing for improved cropping on European farmland and “PLAN’EAT” - Food systems transformation towards healthy and sustainable dietary behaviourI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
