Molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci for domestication traits and beta-glucan content in a wheat recombinant inbred line population

Genetic maps are useful for analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding. A simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker linkage map of common wheat was constructed based on recombination inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Chinese Spring and spelt wheat. The map included 264 loci on all wheat chromosomes covering 2,345.2 cM with 962, 794.6, and 588.6 cM for the A, B, and D genomes, respectively. Using the RILs and the map, we detected 42 putative QTLs on 15 chromosomes for ear length, spikelet number, spike compactness, kernel length, kernel width, kernel height and beta-glucan content. Each QTL explained 4-45% of the phenotypic variation. Five QTL cluster regions were detected on chromosomes 1A, 5AL, 2B, 2D, and 4D. The first QTLs for beta-glucan content in wheat were identified on chromosomes 3A, 1B, 5B, and 6D.