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Research: COLASUONNO and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 303
Abstract
COLASUONNO and COLLEAGUES, 1. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy; 2. Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Via G. Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy; 3. Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Cereal Research Centre, 71122, Foggia, Italy; 4. The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, Scotland; 5. Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Via G. Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy. antonio.blanco@uniba.it conducted research to understand the genetic basis of grain yellow pigments and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) linked to carotenoid pigmentation in wheat kernels.
Background
In plants carotenoids play an important role in the photosynthetic process and photo-oxidative protection, and are the substrate for the synthesis of abscisic acid and strigolactones.
Methodology
In addition to their protective role as antioxidants and precursors of vitamin A, in wheat carotenoids are important as they influence the colour (whiteness vs. yellowness) of the grain. Understanding the genetic basis of grain yellow pigments, and identifying associated markers provide the basis for improving wheat quality by molecular breeding.
Results
Twenty-four candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis and catabolism of carotenoid compounds have been identified in wheat by comparative genomics. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the coding sequences of 19 candidate genes allowed their chromosomal location and accurate map position on two reference consensus maps to be determined. The genome-wide association study based on genotyping a tetraploid wheat collection with 81,587 gene-associated SNPs validated quantitative trait loci (QTLs) previously detected in bi-parental populations and discovered new QTLs for grain colour-related traits. Ten carotenoid genes mapped in chromosome regions underlying pigment content QTLs indicating possible functional relationships between candidate genes and the trait.
Conclusion
The availability of linked, candidate gene-based markers can facilitate breeding wheat cultivars with desirable levels of carotenoids. Identifying QTLs linked to carotenoid pigmentation can contribute to understanding genes underlying carotenoid accumulation in the wheat kernels. Together these outputs can be combined to exploit the genetic variability of colour-related traits for the nutritional and commercial improvement of wheat products.
References
Colasuonno P1, Lozito ML2, Marcotuli I1, Nigro D2, Giancaspro A2, Mangini G2, De Vita P3, Mastrangelo AM3, Pecchioni N3, Houston K4, Simeone R2, Gadaleta A1, Blanco A5. The carotenoid biosynthetic and catabolic genes in wheat and their association with yellow pigments. BMC Genomics;18(1):122. doi: 10.1186/s12864-016-3395-6 . 31 Jan 2017.
