Mapping QTLs Associated with Grain Yield in Hexaploid Wheat, Triticum aestivum

Rising populations present a global decrease in food security. Increasing cereal production to meet the demands of the growing population is a challenge faced by crop scientists.

Using molecular markers, namely Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, to map quantitative trait loci associated with components of grain yield in hexaploid bread wheat, Triticum aestivum, will provide putative locations for candidate genes influencing important agronomic phenotypes.

Fifteen QTLs were mapped onto linkage groups of a cross between two doubled haploid UK wheat varieties, Avalon and Cadenza. mRNA seq taken from high yielding and low yielding ‘bulks’ from this population will highlight transcript differences between plants which segregate for grain yield.