QTLs associated with plant height and related characters in hexaploid wheat

Abstract

Two genetic systems are involved in the control of the plant height in wheat: Rht genes which exert a major effect, and many other genes which usually exert only minor effects on plant height. The purpose of the present study was to identify RFLP markers linked with quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with minor effects on plant height. To remove the strong effect of Rht genes, a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between hexaploid wheat, T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring and T. spelta, was used, where neither parents harbor the Rht alleles. Seven RFLP markers on chromosomes 1A, 1D, 2B, 2D, and 4B were linked with plant height. In addition, QTLs associated with morphological characters related to plant height could be identified.