Zhien Pu, Ying Pei, Jian Yang, Jian Ma, Wei Li, Dengcai Liu, Jirui Wang, Yuming Wei, Youliang Zheng
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-017-3556-7
First Online: 13 February 2018
Abstract
Background and aims
As an essential mineral element, selenium (Se) plays a critical role in human health. Given the low concentrations (<100 mg Se kg–1) of Se in staple crops, the identification of genetic resources with enriched Se, as well as the genes controlling Se concentration, is valuable for the marker-assisted selection of Se-rich varieties.
Methods
We determined the chromosomal quantitative trait (QTL) for Se concentration over two consecutive plant growth cycles using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) treated with two different concentrations of Se under both field-grown and hydroponic conditions.
Results
Several QTL for Se concentration were detected across the different treatments. Significant genotypic variation in the tissues of the RIL was found at Se-deficicencycondition. Notably, a QTL located on 3D (interval 214.00–218.00, Qse.sau-3D) affected root length and Se concentration in the leaves and grains, suggesting the existence of the same allele with distinctly different functions. However, the QTL for the agronomic traits measured (plant height, flowering time, and tillering number) and Se concentration were not found to be located on the same chromosomal regions, suggesting that marker-assisted selection for both traits is feasible. Se concentrations in the grains were primarily determined by the mineral transport efficiency of the lines, and the line with the highest Se concentration in the grains always possessed larger, more fibrous root systems. The concentrations of Se in the plant tissues were in the order of: root > stem > grain.
Conclusions
This is the first study to document a Se-rich synthetic wheat line, and root structure and Se grain concentration was strongly affected by QTL located on 3D.
Keywords
Selenium, QTL, Wheat, Root characteristics, RIL
