Molecular dissection of plant height QTLs using recombinant inbred lines from hybrids between common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spelt wheat (Triticum spelta L.)

In wheat, plant height is an important agronomic trait, and a number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling plant height have been located. In this study, using the conditional and unconditional QTL mapping methods, combined with data from five different growth stages over two years of field trials, the developmental behavior for plant height in wheat was dissected. Nine unconditional QTLs and 8 conditional QTLs were identified, of which 6 were detected by both methods. None of the 11 QTLs was detected at all of the 5 investigated developmental stages, but 7 QTLs were detected at certain stages in both years. Further analysis identified 9 unconditional QTLs at different stages, which could explain the phenotypic variation from 4.81% to 17.35%. It was noteworthy that one major QTL designated QHt-4B-2, which was located on chromosome 4B, was detected on May 18 and 25 in both years, and its genetic contributions to plant height ranged from 13.42% to 16.13%. Moreover, of the 8 conditional QTLs identified, six were detected in both years, in the order of QHt-3B→QHt-4B-1→QHt-4B-2→QHt-4D→QHt-5A and QHt-2B expressed at the same developmental stage. The results indicate that QTL expression during plant height development is selective and in a temporal order.