Dataset
Unlocking Wheat’s Potential: Combining Yield-Related QTL in High-Biomass Lines
2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000008310
Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production faces a dual challenge: rising global demand and increasing yield variability due to annual climate variations. One approach to address these challenges is to improve grain yield through yield component traits. High-biomass wheat lines developed at CIMMYT offer strong source components but are often limited by sink constraints and trade-offs between grain number and weight. To overcome this, we tested whether combining high source capacity lines with a sink-strengthening QTL could increase grain yield. A QTL on wheat chromosome 4AL, discovered in spring wheat cultivars ‘Kelse’ and ‘Scarlet,’ shows potential to boost sink components by enhancing thousand grain weight and number. This study evaluated the 4AL QTL in five high-biomass CIMMYT lines across two seasons of normal and two of late planting in Obregon, Mexico. Trials used a randomized block design (four replications), and data were analyzed using orthogonal contrasts and MLM. The 4AL QTL significantly increased thousand grain weight, seed size, and relative grain filling period, with minor or variable effects on grain number. Trait expression varied by high-biomass background, with some backgrounds demonstrating high grain yield and stable grain size across environments. Comparing the QTL from Kelse or Scarlet in a shared high-biomass background, Scarlet consistently outperformed Kelse in grain yield due to higher grain number, whereas Kelse had lower grain yield but increased grain size, revealing distinct trait profiles from each QTL donor. The QTL’s grain yield benefit was strongest under normal planting, while effects under late planting were background and year-dependent. These results show that matching source-rich backgrounds with sink-strengthening QTL can enhance grain yield when the genetic background and environment align.
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Details
- Title
- Unlocking Wheat’s Potential: Combining Yield-Related QTL in High-Biomass Lines
- Creators
- Adele Jamalzei (Author) - Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil SciencesSheri Lynn Rynearson (Author) - Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil SciencesJacinta Gimeno (Author) - International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, El Batán, Texcoco, MéxicoMichael O. Pumphrey (Author) - Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil SciencesMatthew Reynolds (Author) - International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, El Batán, Texcoco, MéxicoArron Hyrum Carter (Author) - Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
- Academic Unit
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
- Identifiers
- 99901389805301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dataset