QTL mapping and analysis of epistatic interactions for grain yield and yield-related traits in Triticum turgidum L. var. durum

Abstract

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of grain yield and yield-related traits was conducted on 93 durum wheat Recombinant Inbred Lines (RIL) derived from the cross UC1113 × Kofa. The mapping population and the parental lines were evaluated in environments of Argentina for 19 traits, including grain yield (Yld), heading date (Hd), flowering time (Flt), plant height (Ph), biomass per plant (Bpp), and spikelet number per ear (Sne). A total of 223 QTLs with LOD ≥ 3 and 47 additional QTLs with LOD > 2.0 were detected. These QTLs were clustered in 36 regions with pleiotropic QTLs and 12 genomic regions each associated with only one phenotypic trait. The regions with highest number of pleiotropic and stable QTLs were 3BS.1, 3BS.2,2BS.1, 1BL.1, 3AL.1, 1AS and 4AL.3. In addition, effects of epistatic QTLs and QTL x environment interactions were detected.