千粒重(TGW)、穗粒数(GNS)和穗粒重(GWS)是小麦产量的重要组成部分。为了解析其遗传学基础，我们构建了一个由8762/Keyi5214衍生的198个系组成的DH群体，利用基因芯片对该DH群体进行基因型鉴定，并将产量相关性状千粒重、穗粒数和穗粒重表型整合并进行QTL定位。最后，我们共获得18,942个多态性SNP标记，并鉴定出41个与这些性状相关的关键QTL。我们在染色体2D和6A上鉴定出三个稳定的千粒重QTL (QTgw-2D.3, QTgw-2D.4, QTgw-6A.1)，其增效等位基因均来自亲本8762，解释了4.81%-18.67%的表型变异。在染色体3D、5B、5D和6A上鉴定出5个稳定的穗粒数QTL，其中QGns-5D.1来自亲本8762，其余4个来自亲本Keyi5214的QTL解释了5.89-7.08%的表型变异。此外，还发现了一个稳定的小麦穗粒重遗传位点QGws-4A.3，该位点来自亲本8762，可解释6.08-6.14%的表型变异。为了应用鉴定到的QTL，我们为四个重要的QTL (Tgw2D.3-2, Tgw2D.4-1, Tgw6A.1 和 Gns3D.1)开发了STARP标记。本研究结果可为后期小麦千粒重、穗粒数和单穗重相关基因的鉴定和克隆奠定基础。

The construction of high density genetic linkage map provides a powerful tool to detect and map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling agronomically important traits. In this study, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and Illumina 9K iSelect single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genechip were employed to construct one genetic linkage map of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using 191 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from cross Yu 8679×Jing 411. This map included 1 901 SNP loci and 178 SSR loci, covering 1 659.9 cM and 1 000 marker bins, with an average interval distance of 1.66 cM. A, B and D genomes covered 719.1, 703.5 and 237.3 cM, with an average interval distance of 1.66, 1.45 and 2.9 cM, respectively. Notably, the genetic linkage map covered 20 chromosomes, with the exception of chromosome 5D. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 1 754 (92.27%) of 1 901 mapped SNP loci could be aligned to 1 215 distinct wheat unigenes, among which 1 184 (97.4%) were located on one single chromosome, and the rest 31 (2.6%) were located on 2 to 3 chromosomes. By performing in silico comparison, 214 chromosome deletion bin-mapped expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 1 043 Brachypodium genes and 1 033 rice genes were further added onto the genetic linkage map. This map not only integrated genetic and physical maps, SSR and SNP loci, respectively, but also provided the information of Brachypodium and rice genes corresponding to 1 754 SNP loci. Therefore, it will be a useful tool for comparative genomics analysis, fine mapping of QTL/gene controlling agronomically important traits and marker-assisted selection breeding in wheat.

14-3-3 proteins belong to a family of phosphoserine/threonine-binding modules and participate in a wide array of signal transduction and regulatory events. Our previous study demonstrated that Ta14-3-3 was significantly down-regulated in leaf and root tissues of hybrid wheat at the tillering stage. In this paper, three homoeologous Ta14-3-3 genes were cloned from common wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n=6x=42, AABBDD) and mapped on chromosomes 2A, 2B, and 2D, respectively. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants ectopically overexpressing Ta14-3-3 displayed shorter primary roots, delayed flowering and retarded growth rates, indicating that Ta14-3-3 acted as a growth inhibitor in Arabidopsis. In wheat, Ta14-3-3 was down-regulated in roots and leaves of hybrids as compared to their parental lines. We proposed that Ta14-3-3 proteins might regulate growth vigor in hybrid wheat.

Plant leaves respond to day/night cycling in a number of physiological ways. At the mRNA level, the expression of some genes changes during the 24 h period. To determine which proteins exhibited a rhythmic pattern of expression, proteomic profiles in maize seedling leaves were analyzed by high-throughput two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, combined with MALDI-TOF MS technology. Of the 464 proteins that were detected with silver staining in a pH range of 4-7, 17 (3.66%) showed clock rhythmicity in their abundance. These proteins belonged to diverse functional groups and proteins involved in photosynthesis and carbon metabolism were over-represented. These findings provide a new perspective on the relationship between the physiological functions of leaves and the clock rhythmic system.