AUTHOR=Miao Lili , Mao Xinguo , Wang Jingyi , Liu Zicheng , Zhang Bin , Li Weiyu , Chang Xiaoping , Reynolds Matthew , Wang Zhenhua , Jing Ruilian 

TITLE=Elite Haplotypes of a Protein Kinase Gene TaSnRK2.3 Associated with Important Agronomic Traits in Common Wheat

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.00368

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2017.00368

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Plant-specific protein kinase SnRK2s play crucial roles in response to various environmental stimuli. <italic>TaSnRK2.3</italic>, a SnRK2 member, was involved in the response to multiple abiotic stresses in wheat. To facilitate the use of <italic>TaSnRK2.3</italic> in wheat breeding, the three genomic sequences of <italic>TaSnRK2.3</italic>, originating from the A, B, and D genomes of hexaploid wheat, were obtained. Sequence polymorphism assays showing 4 and 10 variations were detected at <italic>TaSnRK2.3-1A</italic> and at <italic>TaSnRK2.3-1B</italic>, respectively, yet no variation was identified at <italic>TaSnRK2.3-1D</italic>. Three haplotypes for A genome, and two main haplotypes for B genome of <italic>TaSnRK2.3</italic> were identified in 32 genotypes. Functional markers (2.3AM1, 2.3AM2, 2.3BM1, 2.3BM2) were successfully developed to distinguish different haplotypes. Association analysis was performed with the general linear model in TASSEL 2.1. The results showed that both <italic>TaSnRK2.3-1A</italic> and <italic>TaSnRK2.3-1B</italic> were significantly associated with plant height (PH), length of peduncle and penultimate node, as well as 1,000-grain weight (TGW) under different environments. Additionally, <italic>TaSnRK2.3-1B</italic> was significantly associated with stem water-soluble carbohydrates at flowering and mid-grain filling stages. <italic>Hap</italic>-1A-1 had higher TGW and lower PH; <italic>Hap</italic>-1B-1 had higher TGW and stem water-soluble carbohydrates, as well as lower PH, thus the two haplotypes were considered as elite haplotypes. Geographic distribution and allelic frequencies indicated that the two preferred haplotypes <italic>Hap</italic>-1A-1 and <italic>Hap</italic>-1B-1 were positively selected in the process of Chinese wheat breeding. These results could be valuable for genetic improvement and germplasm enhancement using molecular marker assisted selection in wheat breeding.</p>