Genome-wide association study of seedling nitrogen-use efficiency-associated traits in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Huawei Shi, W Wang, Lifeng Gao, Jirong Wu, Chengmei Hu, Huishu Yan, Yugang Shi, Ning Li, You‐Zhi Ma, Yongbin Zhou, Zhao‐Shi Xu, Jun Chen, Wensi Tang, Kai Chen, Daizhen Sun, Yuxiang Wu, Ming Chen
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is essential for crop-plant growth and development. Identifying genetic loci associated with N-use efficiency (NUE) could increase wheat yields and reduce environmental pollution caused by overfertilization. We subjected a panel of 389 wheat accessions to N and chlorate (a nitrate analog) treatments to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling NUE-associated traits at the wheat seedling stage. Genotyping the panel with a 660K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, we identified 397 SNPs associated with N-sensitivity index and chlorate inhibition rate. These SNPs were merged into 49 QTL, of which eight were multi-environment stable QTL and 27 were located near previously reported QTL. A set of 135 candidate genes near the 49 QTL included TaBOX (F-box family protein) and TaERF (ethylene-responsive transcription factor). A Tabox mutant was more sensitive to low-N stress than the wild-type plant. We developed two functional markers for Hap 1, the favorable allele of TaBOX.