Background: Sulfur (S) is a vital element for the normal growth and development of plants, performing crucial biological functions in various life processes.
Methods: This study investigated thirteen S utilization efficiency (SUE)-related traits at the seedling stage of wheat using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were mapped by genetic mapping. Thirteen S utilization efficiency-related traits were investigated under two hydroponic culture trials with low S (0.1S, T1), moderate S (0.5S, T2), and high S (1.5S, T3) levels, using the wheat RILs.
Results: A total of 170 QTLs for the thirteen traits in different treatment environments were identified. Among them, 89, 103, and 101 QTLs were found in T1, T2, and T3, respectively. A total of 63 QTLs were found in the multiple treatment environments, the other 107 QTLs only being detected in a single treatment environment. Among them, thirteen relatively high-frequency QTLs (RHF-QTLs) and eleven QTL clusters were found. Five (QSh-1D, QRn-1D, QSdw-1D, QTdw-1D, and QTsc-1D) and six (QRdw-6A, QSdw-6A, QTdw-6A, QRsc-6A, QSsc-6A, and QTsc-6A) RHF-QTLs were identified in QTL clusters C3 and C10, respectively.
Conclusion: These thirteen RHF-QTLs and eleven QTL clusters are expected to apply to the molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) of wheat.
Keywords: common wheat; quantitative trait locus (QTL); recombinant inbred line (RIL); sulfur (S); utilization efficiency.