TaSPL14-7A is a conserved regulator controlling plant architecture and yield traits in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Lina Cao, Tian Li, Shuaifeng Geng, Yinhui Zhang, Yuxue Pan, Xueyong Zhang, Fang Wang, Chenyang Hao
Abstract
Plant architecture is a crucial influencing factor of wheat yield and adaptation. In this study, we cloned and characterized TaSPL14 , a homologous gene of the rice ideal plant architecture gene OsSPL14 in wheat. TaSPL14 homoeologs ( TaSPL14-7A , TaSPL14-7B and TaSPL14-7D ) exhibited similar expression patterns, and they were all preferentially expressed in stems at the elongation stage and in young spikes. Moreover, the expression level of TaSPL14-7A was higher than that of TaSPL14-7B and TaSPL14-7D . Overexpression of TaSPL14-7A in wheat resulted in significant changes in plant architecture and yield traits, including decreased tiller number and increased kernel size and weight. Three TaSPL14-7A haplotypes were identified in Chinese wheat core collection, and haplotype-based association analysis showed that TaSPL14-7A-Hap1/2 were significantly correlated with fewer tillers, larger kernels and higher kernel weights in modern cultivars. The haplotype effect resulted from a difference in TaSPL14-7A expression levels among genotypes, with TaSPL14-7A-Hap1/2 leading to higher expression levels than TaSPL14-7A-Hap3 . As favorable haplotypes, TaSPL14-7A-Hap1/2 underwent positive selection during global wheat breeding over the last century. Together, the findings of our study provide insight into the function and genetic effects of TaSPL14 and provide a useful molecular marker for wheat breeding.