Genetic dissection of pleiotropic loci associated with copper content and quality traits in wheat grain

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2026.01.032

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Xueyan Jing^1,², Zhankui Zeng^1,², Chang Liu^1,², Yue Zhao^1,², Qunxiang Yan^1,², Chunping Wang^1,²^#

¹ College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, China

² The Shennong Laboratory, Zhengzhou 450099, China

Highlights

Three novel and stable QTLs were detected for copper content and quality traits in wheat grain.

Pleiotropic Effects of three QTLs can significantly increase copper content and quality traits.

A KASP marker was developed for molecular-assisted breeding to enhance nutritional quality traits in wheat.

Abstract
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摘要

小麦是全球主食及膳食矿物质的重要来源，提供主要的微量元素。铜（Cu）是小麦生长发育过程中必需的营养元素，在多种代谢和生化反应中起关键作用。同时，Cu分布在人体的组织和器官中，参与人体生理代谢。Cu缺乏可能会导致毛发异常、贫血、骨骼异常甚至脑功能障碍等问题。本研究基于DArT标记构建的遗传图谱，以Avocet/Chilero构建的164个F₆ RILs（AC群体）和以Avocet/Huites构建的175个F₆ RILs（AH群体）两个重组自交系（RIL）群体的籽粒Cu含量进行QTL定位。共定位到4个QTL（QGCu.haust-AH-7D、QGCu.haust-AC-5B.2、QGCu.haust-AH-5B.1、QGCu.haust-AH-1B），分别位于1B、5B和7D染色体上且均超过2个环境。QGCu.haust-AH-7D为主效且稳定的QTL，在3个环境中被定位到，其表型变异（PVE）解释率为8.70%至9.34%，物理区间为99.96至100.66 Mb。QGCu.haust-5B是一个共定位且主效的QTL，其物理区间为446.01至450.57 Mb，分别解释了AC群体在两个环境中QGCu.haust-AC-5B.2（421.44-607.84 Mb）与AH群体在两个环境中QGCu.haust-AH-5B.1（446.01至450.57 Mb）之间11.28%至26.02%的表型变异。QGCu.haust-AH-1B为稳定的QTL，在两种环境中对表型变异的解释率为9.79%至15.96%，其物理区间为340.46 Mb至416.77 Mb。携带QGCu.haust-AH-1B、QGCu.haust-5B和QGCu.haust-AH-7D的有利等位基因的品系与携带不利等位基因的品系相比籽粒Cu含量显著提高了13.63%、14.34%和10.54%（P<0.01）。通过聚合效应和多效性效应分析，结果表明聚合三个QTL的有利等位基因可分别使籽粒Cu含量、籽粒蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量和沉降值显著提高30.82%、18.65%、19.16%和52.43%（P<0.01）并开发了标记KACu-5B-2。遗传效应分析显示，与携带不利单倍型的Hap2相比，有利单倍型Hap1使籽粒铜含量、籽粒蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量和沉降值分别显著提高8.1%、5.12%、5.32%和5.52%（P<0.05）。本研究为克隆小麦籽粒Cu含量相关基因提供了理论基础和技术支持，有助于分子标记辅助选择（MAS）和富铜生物强化育种策略。

Abstract

Wheat is a major staple food and primary source of dietary minerals in the world, providing vital trace elements. Copper (Cu) is an essential nutrient for the development, and it plays a crucial role in various metabolic and biochemical reactions in wheat. Meanwhile, Cu is distributed in human tissues and organs and involved in human physiological functions. Cu deficiency may lead to abnormal hair, anemia, abnormal bones and even disorders of brain function. In this study, we detected QTLs for Cu content in two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, including 164 F₆ RILs from a cross between Avocet and Chilero (AC population) and 175 F₆ RILs from a cross between Avocet and Huites (AH population). Four QTLs (QGCu.haust-AH-7D, QGCu.haust-AC-5B.2, QGCu.haust-AH-5B.1, QGCu.haust-AH-1B) were detected on chromosomes 1B, 5B and 7D across more than two environments by QTL mapping with diversity array technology (DArT) marker. QGCu.haust-AH-7D, a major and stable QTL was detected in three environments explaining the phenotypic variance (PVE) from 8.70 to 9.34% with a physical interval of 99.96 to 100.66 Mb. QGCu.haust-5B, a co-localization and major QTL ranged from 446.01 to 450.57 Mb and explained 11.28% to 26.02% of the phenotypic variance between QGCu.haust-AC-5B.2 (421.44-607.84 Mb) in AC population and QGCu.haust-AH-5B.1 (446.01 to 450.57 Mb) of AH population in two environments. QGCu.haust-AH-1B, a stable QTL was explained 9.79 to 15.96% of the phenotypic variance with a physical interval of 340.46 Mb to 416.77 Mb in two environments. These favorable alleles of QGCu.haust-AH-1B, QGCu.haust-5B and QGCu.haust-AH-7D significantly increased grain Cu content by 13.63, 14.34 and 10.54% (P<0.01) compared with lines carrying unfavorable alleles. Using pyramiding and pleiotropic effects analysis with quality traits, the pyramiding of favorable alleles of the three QTLs significantly increased grain Cu content, grain protein content, wet gluten content and sedimentation value by 30.82, 18.65, 19.16, and 52.43% (P<0.01), respectively. A high-throughput competitive allele specific PCR (KASP) marker, KACu-5B-2 was developed and verified in the natural population (ZD population). Genetic effect revealed that favorable haplotype Hap1 significantly rised up grain Cu content, grain protein content, wet gluten content and sedimentation value by 8.1%, 5.12, 5.32, and 5.52% compared to Hap2 with unfavorable haplotype (P<0.05). This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for cloning wheat grain Cu content related genes, facilitating molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) and optimizing Cu-enriched biofortification breeding strategies.

Keywords: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cu content co-location pleiotropic effects

Online: 23 January 2026

Fund:

The authors wish to thank the wheat molecular breeding group of Henan University of Science and Technology for providing wheat seeds. This work was supported by Henan Province Major Science and Technology Project, China (251100110200), the Key Research Project of the Shennong Laboratory, China (SN01-2022-01), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32401870).

About author: #Correspondence Chunping Wang, E-mail: chunpingw@haust.edu.cn

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Xueyan Jing, Zhankui Zeng, Chang Liu, Yue Zhao, Qunxiang Yan, Chunping Wang. 2026. Genetic dissection of pleiotropic loci associated with copper content and quality traits in wheat grain. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2026.01.032

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