QTL analysis of main and epistatic effects for grain color traits in pasta wheat

RONCALLO PABLO; GERARDO CERVIGNI; JENSEN CARLOS; RUBEN MIRANDA; CARRERA ALICIA; HELGUERA MARCELO; ECHENIQUE VIVIANA

JOURNAL OF CEREAL SCIENCE (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2010

0733-5210

The main objective of this work was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with yellow color (YC) and carotenoid pigment content (CPC) in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum). Additionally, QTLs affecting the redness (CIE a*) and brightness (CIE L*) color parameters were investigated. A population of 93 RILs (UC1113 x Kofa) was evaluated in three locations of Argentina during two years. High heritability values (>94%) were obtained for YC and CPC, while CIE L* and CIE a* showed intermediate to high values. The main overlapping QTLs affecting YC and CPC were located on 4AL (4AL.3), 6AL (6AL.2), 7AS (7AS.2), 7AL, 7BS (7BS.2) and 7BL (7BL.1). The 7BL.1 QTL was flanked by the Psy-B1 locus, but two additional linked QTLs were detected.  A novel minor QTL was located on 7AS (7AS.2) which showed epistatic effect for CPC. Interestingly, an epistatic interaction was found between the 7AL and 7BL.2 QTLs. The 6AL.2 QTL explained most of the variation for YC and CPC. The main QTLs affecting CIE L* and CIE a* were located on 2BS and 7BL, respectively. These results confirm the complex inheritance of color traits and open the possibility of developing perfect markers to improve pasta quality.