Montardit-Tarda Francesc, Casas Ana M, Thomas William T B, Schnaithmann Florian, Sharma Rajiv, Shaaf Salar, Campoli Chiara, Russell Joanne, Ramsay Luke, Bayer Micha M, Delbono Stefano, Jääskeläinen Marko, Paul Maitry, Stoddard Frederick L, Visioni Andrea, Flavell Andrew J, Pillen Klaus, Kilian Benjamin, Graner Andreas, Rossini Laura, Waugh Robbie, Cattivelli Luigi, Schulman Alan H, Tondelli Alessandro, Igartua Ernesto
Estación Experimental de Aula Dei-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEAD-CSIC), Avenida Montañana 1005, 500059, Saragossa, Spain.
James Hutton Institute, Errol Road, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK.
Theor Appl Genet. 2025 Jun 23;138(7):158. doi: 10.1007/s00122-025-04934-8.
A dense genome-wide meta-analysis provides new QTLs, reveals breeding history trends and identifies new candidate genes for yield, plant height, grain weight, and heading time of spring barley. This study contributes new knowledge on quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes for adaptive traits and yield in two-rowed spring barley. A meta-analysis of a network of field trials, varying in latitude and sowing date, with 151 cultivars across several European countries, increased QTL detection power compared to single-trial analyses. The traits analysed were heading date (HD), plant height (PH), thousand-grain weight (TGW), and grain yield (GY). Breaking down the analysis by the main genotype-by-environment trends revealed QTLs and candidate genes specific to conditions like sowing date and latitude. A historical look on the evolution of QTL frequencies revealed that early selection focused on PH and TGW, likely due to their high heritability. GY selection occurred later, facilitated by reduced variance in other traits. The study observed that favourable alleles for plant height were often fixed before those for grain yield and TGW. Some regions showed linkage in repulsion, suggesting targets for future breeding. Several candidate genes were identified, including known genes and new candidates based on orthology with rice. Remarkably, the deficiens allele of gene Vrs1 appears associated with higher GY. These findings provide valuable insights for barley breeders aiming to improve yield and other agronomic traits.
一项密集的全基因组荟萃分析提供了新的数量性状基因座（QTL），揭示了育种历史趋势，并确定了与春大麦产量、株高、粒重和抽穗期相关的新候选基因。本研究为二棱春大麦的适应性性状和产量的数量性状基因座（QTL）及候选基因提供了新知识。对一系列田间试验进行荟萃分析，这些试验在纬度和播种日期上有所不同，涉及多个欧洲国家的151个品种，与单试验分析相比，提高了QTL检测能力。分析的性状包括抽穗期（HD）、株高（PH）、千粒重（TGW）和籽粒产量（GY）。按主要的基因型×环境趋势分解分析，揭示了特定于播种日期和纬度等条件的QTL和候选基因。对QTL频率演变的历史研究表明，早期选择集中在PH和TGW上，可能是由于它们的高遗传力。GY选择后来才出现，这得益于其他性状方差的降低。该研究观察到，株高的有利等位基因通常比籽粒产量和TGW的有利等位基因更早固定。一些区域显示出相斥连锁，为未来育种指明了目标。鉴定出了几个候选基因，包括已知基因和基于与水稻同源性的新候选基因。值得注意的是，基因Vrs1的缺失等位基因似乎与较高的GY相关。这些发现为旨在提高产量和其他农艺性状的大麦育种者提供了有价值的见解。
