Defining Agronomically Important Regions of the Genome using GWAS

Genome-wide association and linkage mapping is a powerful approach to identify QTL and tightly linked molecular markers for agronomical traits in crops. In the present study, four recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from the crosses of Doumai/Shi4185, Gaocheng8901/Zhoumai 16, Zhou8425B/Chinese Spring, and Linmai2/Zhong892, and 305 wheat cultivars were genotyped using wheat 90K SNP array. Field trials were conducted in Beijing, Shijiazhuang of Hebei province, Anyang of Henan province, and Suixi of Anhui province for phenotyping yield and related traits, providing data for four environments. Association analysis was performed using the general linear model and the mixed linear model functions of TASSEL. High-density linkage maps were constructed using the software JoinMap4.0. Composite interval mapping detected over 100 QTLs for yield and related traits in the populations. Several agronomically important regions were identified in wheat genome.