Grain zinc, iron and protein concentrations and zinc-efficiency in wild emmer wheat under contrasting irrigation regimes

Micronutrient malnutrition, and particularly deficiency in zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), afflicts over three billion people worldwide, and nearly half of the world’s cereal-growing area is affected by soil Zn deficiency. Wild emmer wheat [Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Körn.) Thell.], the progenitor of domesticated durum wheat and bread wheat, offers a valuable source of economically important genetic diversity including grain mineral concentrations. Twenty two wild emmer wheat accessions, representing a wide range of drought resistance capacity, as well as two durum wheat cultivars were examined under two contrasting irrigation regimes (well-watered control and water-limited), for grain yield, total biomass production and grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations. The wild emmer accessions exhibited high genetic diversity for yield and grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations under both irrigation regimes, with a considerable potential for improvement of the cultivated wheat. Grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations were positively correlated with one another. Although irrigation regime significantly affected ranking of genotypes, a few wild emmer accessions were identified for their advantage over durum wheat, having consistently higher grain Zn (e.g., 125 mg kg^?1), Fe (85 mg kg^?1) and protein (250 g kg^?1) concentrations and high yield capacity. Plants grown from seeds originated from both irrigation regimes were also examined for Zn efficiency (Zn deficiency tolerance) on a Zn-deficient calcareous soil. Zinc efficiency, expressed as the ratio of shoot dry matter production under Zn deficiency to Zn fertilization, showed large genetic variation among the genotypes tested. The source of seeds from maternal plants grown under both irrigation regimes had very little effect on Zn efficiency. Several wild emmer accessions revealed combination of high Zn efficiency and drought stress resistance. The results indicate high genetic potential of wild emmer wheat to improve grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations, Zn deficiency tolerance and drought resistance in cultivated wheat.     

Genetic analysis of the effect of zinc deficiency on Arabidopsis growth and mineral concentrations

Aims

Zinc deficiency is a common micronutrient deficiency in plants growing in many different regions of the world and is associated with disturbances in uptake and accumulation of mineral nutrients. Despite many published data on physiological factors affecting ion accumulation in Zn deficient plants, there is very little information about the genetic factors underlying this. We aim to identify genetic loci involved in mineral accumulation and plant performance under Zn deficiency.

Methods

Genetic loci were identified using the genetically segregating Ler × Cvi recombinant inbred line (RIL) population grown under Zn deficient conditions. Lines were analysed for the concentrations of Zn, Fe, Mn, K, Ca, Mg, P, Cu, S and Al in shoot dry matter. The same was done for the same lines grown under Zn sufficient conditions.

Results

We found considerable heritable variation for most mineral concentrations. In general, there was a positive correlation between mineral concentrations. For Zn only condition-dependent QTLs were identified, while for most other mineral concentrations both condition-dependent and -independent QTLs were identified. Several QTLs co-localize, including co-localization to loci controlling shoot biomass and to mineral concentration loci found previously in this and other RIL populations.

Conclusions

There are different genetic loci controlling Zn accumulation under deficient and sufficient Zn supply. Only for few minerals, their accumulation is controlled by Zn-supply-specific loci.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping reveals pleiotropic effect for grain iron and zinc concentrations in wheat

Malnutrition because of the deficiency of minerals such as iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) afflicts over 2 billion people worldwide. Wheat is a major staple crop, providing 20% of dietary energy and protein consumption worldwide. Breeding wheat with elevated levels of grain Zn and Fe concentrations (GZn and GFe) represents a significant opportunity to increase the intake of these micronutrients for the resource poor people who depend on it as a major source of dietary energy. Synthetic hexaploid wheats (SHWs) have large genetic variation for GZn and GFe, which can be exploited for developing wheat varieties with higher concentrations of these minerals. The objective of this study was to localise genomic regions associated with GZn and GFe, thousand kernel weight (TKW) and test weight (TW) in a mapping population derived from the cross of Seri M82 and the SHW CWI76364. Major quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosome 4BS were detected for GZn and GFe; the QTL explained up to 19.6% of the total phenotypic variation for GZn and showed pleiotropic effects on GFe. This indicates that simultaneous improvement of GZn and GFe is feasible. Three and five QTL for TW and TKW were detected, respectively. One of the QTL for TKW was also located on chromosome 4BS. Positive correlations between plant height and GZn/GFe were observed. The 4BS QTL is of great interest for breeding biofortified wheat by means of marker‐assisted selection.     

Dry matter production and distribution of zinc in bread and durum wheat genotypes differing in zinc efficiency

Six bread wheat (Triticum aestivum cvs. Kiraç-66, Gerek-79, Aroona, ES 91-12, ES-14 and Kirkpinar) and four durum wheat (Triticum durum cvs. BDMM-19, Kunduru-1149, Kiziltan-91 and Durati) genotypes were grown under controlled environmental conditions in nutrient solution for 20 days to study the effect of varied supply of Zn (0 to 1 µM) on Zn deficiency symptoms in shoots, root and shoot dry matter production, and distribution of Zn in roots and shoots.Visual Zn deficiency symptoms, such as whitish-brown lesions on leaves, appeared rapidly and severly in durum wheats, particularly in Kiziltan-91 and Durati. Among the durum wheats, BDMM-19 was less affected by Zn deficiency, and among the bread wheats Kiraç-66, ES 91-12, Aroona and Gerek-79 were less affected than ES-14 and Kirkpinar.Under Zn deficiency, shoot dry matter production was decreased in all genotypes, but more distinctly in durum wheat genotypes. Despite severe decreases in shoot growth, root growth of all genotypes was either not affected or even increased by Zn deficiency. Correspondingly, shoot/root dry weight ratios were lower in Zn-deficient than in Zn-sufficient plants, especially in durum wheat genotypes.The distinct differences among the genotypes in sensitivity to Zn deficiency were closely related with the Zn content (Zn accumulation) per shoot but not with the Zn concentration in the shoot dry matter. On average, genotypes with lesser deficiency symptoms contained about 42% more Zn per shoot than genotypes with severe deficiency symptoms. In contrast to shoots, the Zn content in roots did not differ between genotypes. Shoot/root ratios of total Zn content were therefore greater for genotypes with lesser deficiency symptoms than for genotypes with severe deficiency symptoms (i.e. all durum wheat genotypes).The results suggest that the enhanced capacity of genotypes for Zn uptake and translocation from roots to shoot meristems under deficient Zn supply might be the most important factor contributing to Zn efficiency in wheat genotypes. The results also demonstrate that under severe Zn deficiency, Zn concentration in the shoot dry matter is not a suitable parameter for distinguishing wheat genotypes in their sensitivity to Zn deficiency.     

Characterization of natural variation for zinc, iron and manganese accumulation and zinc exposure response in Brassica rapa L.

Brassica rapa L. is an important vegetable crop in eastern Asia. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic variation in leaf Zn, Fe and Mn accumulation, Zn toxicity tolerance and Zn efficiency in B. rapa. In total 188 accessions were screened for their Zn-related characteristics in hydroponic culture. In experiment 1, mineral assays on 111 accessions grown under sufficient Zn supply (2 μM ZnSO₄) revealed a variation range of 23.2–155.9 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (d. wt.) for Zn, 60.3–350.1 μg g⁻¹ d. wt. for Fe and 20.9–53.3 μg g⁻¹ d. wt. for the Mn concentration in shoot. The investigation of tolerance to excessive Zn (800 μM ZnSO₄) on 158 accessions, by using visual toxicity symptom parameters (TSPs), identified different levels of tolerance in B. rapa. In experiment 2, a selected sub-set of accessions from experiment 1 was characterized in more detail for their mineral accumulation and tolerance to excessive Zn supply (100 μM and 300 μM ZnSO₄). In this experiment Zn tolerance (ZT) determined by relative root or shoot dry biomass varied about 2-fold. The same six accessions were also examined for Zn efficiency, determined as relative growth under 0 μM ZnSO₄ compared to 2 μM ZnSO₄. Zn efficiency varied 1.8-fold based on shoot dry biomass and 2.6-fold variation based on root dry biomass. Zn accumulation was strongly correlated with Mn and Fe accumulation both under sufficient and deficient Zn supply. In conclusion, there is substantial variation for Zn accumulation, Zn toxicity tolerance and Zn efficiency in Brassica rapa L., which would allow selective breeding for these traits.     

The reduction in zinc concentration of wheat grain upon increased phosphorus-fertilization and its mitigation by foliar zinc application

Background and aims

Malnutrition resulting from zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiency has become a global issue. Excessive phosphorus (P) application may aggravate this issue due to the interactions of P and micronutrients in soil crop. Crop grain micronutrients associated with P applications and the increase of grain Zn by Zn fertilization were field-evaluated.

Methods

A field experiment with wheat was conducted to quantify the effect of P applications on grain micronutrient quality during two cropping seasons. The effect of foliar Zn applications on grain Zn quality with varied P applications was tested in 2011.

Results

Phosphorus applications decreased grain Zn concentration by 17–56%, while grain levels of Fe, manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) either remained the same or increased. Although P applications increased grain yield, they restricted the accumulation of shoot Zn, but enhanced the accumulation of shoot Fe, Cu and especially Mn. In 2011, foliar Zn application restored the grain Zn to levels occurring without P and Zn application, and consequently reduced the grain P/Zn molar ratio by 19–53% than that without Zn application.

Conclusions

Foliar Zn application may be needed to achieve both favorable yield and grain Zn quality of wheat in production areas where soil P is building up.     

Shoot calcium and magnesium concentrations differ between subtaxa, are highly heritable, and associate with potentially pleiotropic loci in Brassica oleracea

Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are the most abundant group II elements in both plants and animals. Genetic variation in shoot Ca and shoot Mg concentration (shoot Ca and Mg) in plants can be exploited to biofortify food crops and thereby increase dietary Ca and Mg intake for humans and livestock. We present a comprehensive analysis of within-species genetic variation for shoot Ca and Mg, demonstrating that shoot mineral concentration differs significantly between subtaxa (varietas). We established a structured diversity foundation set of 376 accessions to capture a high proportion of species-wide allelic diversity within domesticated Brassica oleracea, including representation of wild relatives (C genome, 1n = 9) from natural populations. These accessions and 74 modern F(1) hybrid cultivars were grown in glasshouse and field environments. Shoot Ca and Mg varied 2- and 2.3-fold, respectively, and was typically not inversely correlated with shoot biomass, within most subtaxa. The closely related capitata (cabbage) and sabauda (Savoy cabbage) subtaxa consistently had the highest mean shoot Ca and Mg. Shoot Ca and Mg in glasshouse-grown plants was highly correlated with data from the field. To understand and dissect the genetic basis of variation in shoot Ca and Mg, we studied homozygous lines from a segregating B. oleracea mapping population. Shoot Ca and Mg was highly heritable (up to 40%). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for shoot Ca and Mg were detected on chromosomes C2, C6, C7, C8, and, in particular, C9, where QTL accounted for 14% to 55% of the total genetic variance. The presence of QTL on C9 was substantiated by scoring recurrent backcross substitution lines, derived from the same parents. This also greatly increased the map resolution, with strong evidence that a 4-cM region on C9 influences shoot Ca. This region corresponds to a 0.41-Mb region on Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) chromosome 5 that includes 106 genes. There is also evidence that pleiotropic loci on C8 and C9 affect shoot Ca and Mg. Map-based cloning of these loci will reveal how shoot-level phenotypes relate to Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) uptake and homeostasis at the molecular level.     

Root foraging for zinc and cadmium requirement in the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator plant Sedum alfredii

Positive root response to metals may enhance metal accumulation for greater requirement in hyperaccumulators. The effects of spatially heterogeneous Zn/Cd addition on root allocation, metal accumulation, and growth of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii were assessed in a pot experiment. Young shoots of S. alfredii were grown with or without supplied Zn/Cd. Two concentrations were used of each metal, and each metal concentration had one homogeneous and two heterogeneous treatments. Growth increased by 1.6–3.2 times with the increasing overall dose of Zn/Cd addition, and shoot biomass was positively correlated with shoot Zn/Cd concentration (P?<?0.001). In all heterogeneous treatments, the plants consistently allocated approximately 90% of root biomass to the metal-enriched patches, and shoot Zn/Cd contents were greater than or similar to those in the homogeneous treatment at each metal concentration. Plants in the control treatment showed symptoms of Zn deficiency, although their shoots had Zn concentrations 100-fold higher than the critical deficiency value for most plants. We conclude that S. alfredii has evolved root foraging mechanisms associated with its greater requirements for Zn/Cd. These results could have important implications both for phytoremediation and for investigation of positive role of Cd in higher plants.     

Biofortification of wheat with iron through soil and foliar application of nitrogen and iron fertilizers

Increasing iron (Fe) concentration in food crops is an important global challenge due to high incidence of Fe deficiency in human populations. Evidence is available showing that nitrogen (N) fertilization increases Fe concentration in wheat grain. This positive impact of N on grain Fe was, however, not studied under varied soil and foliar applications of Fe. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate a role of soil- and foliar-applied Fe fertilizers in improving shoot and grain Fe concentration in durum wheat (Triticum durum) grown under increasing N supply as Ca-nitrate. Additionally, an effect of foliar Fe fertilizers on grain Fe was tested with and without urea in the spray solution. Application of various soil or foliar Fe fertilizers had either a little positive effect or remained ineffective on shoot or grain Fe. By contrast, at a given Fe treatment, raising N supply substantially enhanced shoot and grain concentrations of Fe and Zn. Improving N status of plants from low to sufficient resulted in a 3-fold increase in shoot Fe content (e.g., total Fe accumulated), whereas this increase was only 42% for total shoot dry weight. Inclusion of urea in foliar Fe fertilizers had a positive impact on grain Fe concentration. Nitrogen fertilization represents an important agronomic practice in increasing grain Fe. Therefore, the plant N status deserves special attention in biofortification of food crops with Fe.     

A high activity zinc transporter OsZIP9 mediates zinc uptake in rice

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for most organisms including humans, and Zn deficiency is widespread in human populations, particularly in underdeveloped regions. Cereals such as rice (Oryza sativa) are the major dietary source of Zn for most people. However, the molecular mechanism underlying Zn uptake in rice is still not fully understood. Here, we report that a member of the ZIP (ZRT, IRT‐like protein) family, OsZIP9, contributes to Zn uptake in rice. It was expressed in the epidermal and exodermal cells of lateral roots, localized in the plasma membrane and induced during Zn deficiency. Yeast‐expressed OsZIP9 showed much higher Zn influx transport activity than other rice ZIP proteins in a wide range of Zn concentrations. OsZIP9 knockout rice plants showed a significant reduction in growth at low Zn concentrations, but could be rescued by a high Zn supply. Compared with the wild type, accumulation of Zn in root, shoot and grain was much lower in knockout lines, particularly with a low supply of Zn under both hydroponic and paddy soil conditions. OsZIP9 also showed Co uptake activity. Natural variation of OsZIP9 expression level is highly associated with Zn content in milled grain among rice varieties in the germplasm collection. Taken together, these results show that OsZIP9 is an important influx transporter responsible for the take up of Zn and Co from external media into root cells.     

Differential response of rye,triticale, bread and durum wheats to zinc deficiency in calcareous soils

Field and greenhouse experiments were carried out to study the response of rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Aslim), triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmark. cv. Presto), two bread wheats (Triticum aestivum L, cvs. Bezostaja-1 and Atay-85) and two durum wheats (Triticum durum L. cvs. Kunduru-1149 and C-1252) to zinc (Zn) deficiency and Zn fertilization in severely Zn-deficient calcareus soils (DTPA-Zn=0.09 mg kg^-1 soil). The first visible symptom of Zn deficiency was a reduction in shoot elongation followed by the appearance of whitish-brown necrotic patches on the leaf blades. These symptoms were either absent or only slight in rye and triticale, but occurred more rapidly and severely in wheats, particularly in durum wheats. The same was true for the decrease in shoot dry matter production and grain yield. For example, in field experiments at the milk stage, decreases in shoot dry matter production due to Zn deficiency were absent in rye, and were on average 5% in triticale, 34% in bread wheats and 70%, in durum wheats. Zinc fertilization had no effect on grain yield in rye but enhanced grain yield of the other cereals. Zinc efficiency of cereals, expressed as the ratio of yield (shoot dry matter or grain) produced under Zn deficiency compared to Zn fertilization were, on average, 99% for rye, 74% for triticale, 59% for bread wheats and 25% for durum wheats.These distinct differences among and within the cereal species in susceptibility to Zn deficiency were closely related to the total amount (content) of Zn per shoot, but not with the Zn concentrations in shoot dry matter. For example, the most Zn-efficient rye and the Zn-inefficient durum wheat cultivar C-1252 did not differ in shoot Zn concentration under Zn deficiency, but the total amount of Zn per whole shoot was approximately 6-fold higher in rye than the durum wheat. When Zn was applied, rye and triticale accumulated markedly more Zn both per whole shoot and per unit shoot dry matter in comparison to wheats.The results demonstrate an exceptionally high Zn efficiency of rye and show that among the cereals studied Zn efficiency declines in the order rye>triticale>bread wheat>durum wheat. The differences in expression of Zn efficiency are possibly related to a greater capacity of efficient genotypes to acquire Zn from the soil compared to inefficient genotypes.     

Characterization of grain protein content gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">GPC</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">B1</Emphasis>) introgression lines and its potential use in breeding for enhanced grain zinc and iron concentration in spring wheat

At least two billion people around the world suffer from micronutrient deficiency, or hidden hunger, which is characterized by iron-deficiency anemia, vitamin A and zinc deficiency. As a key staple food crop, wheat provides 20% of the world’s dietary energy and protein, therefore wheat is an ideal vehicle for biofortification. Developing biofortified wheat varieties with genetically enhanced levels of grain zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentrations, and protein content provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution to the resource-poor wheat consumers. Large genetic variation for Fe and Zn were found in the primitive and wild relatives of wheat, the potential high Zn and Fe containing genetic resources were used as progenitors to breed high-yielding biofortified wheat varieties with 30–40% higher Zn content. Grain protein content (GPC) determines processing and end-use quality of wheat for making diverse food products. The GPC-B1 allele from Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides have been well characterized for the increase in GPC and the associated pleiotropic effect on grain Zn and Fe concentrations in wheat. In this study effect of GPC-B1 allele on grain Zn and Fe concentrations in wheat were measured in different genetic backgrounds and two different agronomic management practices (with- and without foliar Zn fertilization). Six pairs of near-isogenic lines differing for GPC-B1 gene evaluated at CIMMYT, Mexico showed that GPC-B1 influenced marginal increase for grain Zn, Fe concentrations, grain protein content and slight reduction in kernel weight and grain yield. However, the magnitude of GPC and grain Zn and Fe reductions varied depending on the genetic background. Introgression of GPC-B1 functional allele in combination with normal or delayed maturity alleles in the CIMMYT elite wheat germplasm has the potential to improve GPC and grain Zn and Fe concentrations without the negative effect on grain yield due to early senescence and accelerated maturity.     

Zinc,Iron, Manganese and Copper Uptake Requirement in Response to Nitrogen Supply and the Increased Grain Yield of Summer Maize

The relationships between grain yields and whole-plant accumulation of micronutrients such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) in maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated by studying their reciprocal internal efficiencies (RIEs, g of micronutrient requirement in plant dry matter per Mg of grain). Field experiments were conducted from 2008 to 2011 in North China to evaluate RIEs and shoot micronutrient accumulation dynamics during different growth stages under different yield and nitrogen (N) levels. Fe, Mn and Cu RIEs (average 64.4, 18.1and 5.3 g, respectively) were less affected by the yield and N levels. ZnRIE increased by 15% with an increased N supply but decreased from 36.3 to 18.0 g with increasing yield. The effect of cultivars on ZnRIE was similar to that of yield ranges. The substantial decrease in ZnRIE may be attributed to an increased Zn harvest index (from 41% to 60%) and decreased Zn concentrations in straw (a 56% decrease) and grain (decreased from 16.9 to 12.2 mg kg⁻¹) rather than greater shoot Zn accumulation. Shoot Fe, Mn and Cu accumulation at maturity tended to increase but the proportions of pre-silking shoot Fe, Cu and Zn accumulation consistently decreased (from 95% to 59%, 90% to 71% and 91% to 66%, respectively). The decrease indicated the high reproductive-stage demands for Fe, Zn and Cu with the increasing yields. Optimized N supply achieved the highest yield and tended to increase grain concentrations of micronutrients compared to no or lower N supply. Excessive N supply did not result in any increases in yield or micronutrient nutrition for shoot or grain. These results indicate that optimized N management may be an economical method of improving micronutrient concentrations in maize grain with higher grain yield.     

Mapping QTLs for mineral accumulation and shoot dry biomass under different Zn nutritional conditions in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis)

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) is one of the most important vegetables in China. Genetic dissection of leaf mineral accumulation and tolerance to Zn stress is important for the improvement of the nutritional quality of Chinese cabbage by breeding. A mapping population with 183 doubled haploid (DH) lines was used to study the genetics of mineral accumulation and the growth response to Zn. The genetic map was constructed based on 203 AFLPs, 58 SSRs, 22 SRAPs and four ESTPs. The concentration of 11 minerals was determined in leaves for 142 DH lines grown in an open field. In addition shoot dry biomass (SDB) under normal, deficient and excessive Zn nutritional conditions were investigated in hydroponics experiments. Ten QTLs, each explaining 11.1–17.1% of the Na, Mg, P, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn and Sr concentration variance, were identified by multiple-QTL model (MQM) mapping. One common QTL was found affecting SDB under normal, deficient and excessive Zn nutritional conditions. An additional QTL was detected for SDB under Zn excess stress only. These results offer insights into the genetic basis of leaf mineral accumulation and plant growth under Zn stress conditions in Chinese cabbage.     

Effect of nitrogen on uptake, remobilization and partitioning of zinc and iron throughout the development of durum wheat

Deficiencies of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) are global nutritional problems and caused most often by their limited dietary intake. Increasing Zn and Fe concentrations of staple food crops such as wheat is therefore an important global challenge. This study investigated the effects of varied nitrogen (N) and Zn supply on the total uptake, remobilization and partitioning of Zn, Fe and N in durum wheat throughout its ontogenesis. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions with high or low supply of N and Zn, and harvested at 8 different developmental stages for analysis of Zn, Fe and N in leaves, stems, husks and grains. The results obtained showed that the Zn and Fe uptake per plant was enhanced up to 4-fold by high N supply while the increases in plant growth by high N supply were much less. When both the Zn and N supplies were high, approximately 50% of grain Zn and 80% of grain Fe were provided by post-anthesis shoot uptake, indicating that the contribution of remobilization to grain accumulation was higher for Zn than for Fe. At the high N and Zn application, about 60% of Zn, but only 40% of Fe initially stored in vegetative parts were retranslocated to grains, and nearly 80% of total shoot Zn and 60% of total shoot Fe were harvested with grains. All these values were significantly lower at the low N treatment. Results indicate that N nutrition is a critical factor in both the acquisition and grain allocation of Zn and Fe in wheat.     

Analysis of genetic factors that control shoot mineral concentrations in rapeseed (Brassica napus) in different boron environments

Mineral nutrients are essential for plant cell function, and understanding the genetic and physiological basis of mineral concentration is therefore important for the development of nutrient-efficient crop varieties that can cope with a shortage of mineral resources. In the present study, we investigated the profiles of B, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mg, P and Zn concentrations in shoots and analyzed the genetic variation in a rapeseed (Brassica napus) double haploid population at normal and deficient boron (B) levels in hydroponic conditions. Significant correlations between the concentrations of different minerals, such as Ca and Mg, Ca and P, and Cu and Fe, existed in both B environments. A total of 35 quantitative trait loci (QTL) and 74 epistatic interaction pairs for mineral concentrations were identified by whole genome analysis of QTL and epistatic interactions. The individual phenotypic contributions of the QTL ranged from 4.4% to 19.0%, and the total percentage of genetic variance that was due to QTL and epistatic interactions varied from 10.4% to 82.4%. Most of these QTL corresponded specifically to one of the two B conditions except for one stable main-effect P-QTL across the B environments. Three QTL for Ca and Mg were found to co-localize under normal B condition. These results revealed that genetic factors control mineral homeostasis in plants and multigenes involving ion transport are required to regulate mineral balance in plants under conditions of diverse nutrient stress. In addition, 26 genes involved in ion uptake and transport in Arabidopsis thaliana were in silico mapped onto the QTL intervals of B. napus by comparative genomic analysis. These candidate orthologous genes in B. napus allowed the selection of genes involved in the controlling mineral concentration that may account for the identified QTL.     

Meta-QTL analysis of seed iron and zinc concentration and content in common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.)

Key message

Twelve meta-QTL for seed Fe and Zn concentration and/or content were identified from 87 QTL originating from seven population grown in sixteen field trials. These meta-QTL include 2 specific to iron, 2 specific to zinc and 8 that co-localize for iron and zinc concentrations and/or content.

Abstract

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume for human consumption worldwide and it is an important source of microelements, especially iron and zinc. Bean biofortification breeding programs develop new varieties with high levels of Fe and Zn targeted for countries with human micronutrient deficiencies. Biofortification efforts thus far have relied on phenotypic selection of raw seed mineral concentrations in advanced generations. While numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies have been conducted to identify genomic regions associated with increased Fe and Zn concentration in seeds, these results have yet to be employed for marker-assisted breeding. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis from seven QTL studies in Andean and Middle American intra- and inter-gene pool populations to identify the regions in the genome that control the Fe and Zn levels in seeds. Two meta-QTL specific to Fe and two meta-QTL specific to Zn were identified. Additionally, eight Meta QTL that co-localized for Fe and Zn concentration and/or content were identified across seven chromosomes. The Fe and Zn shared meta-QTL could be useful candidates for marker-assisted breeding to simultaneously increase seed Fe and Zn. The physical positions for 12 individual meta-QTL were identified and within five of the meta-QTL, candidate genes were identified from six gene families that have been associated with transport of iron and zinc in plants.

     

锌和铁缺乏对枳生理指标、矿物质含量及叶片超微结构的影响

采用营养液培养法,研究了缺锌(0μmol·L-1 Zn2+)、缺铁(0μmol.L-1 Fe-EDTA)条件下柑橘砧木枳的生理胁迫反应.结果表明:1)锌、铁缺乏使枳生物量与根系活力均显著下降,叶片与根系中的SOD活性明显上升;叶片与根系中的POD活性在缺锌下显著增高,但在缺铁胁迫下显著降低;缺锌处理的根系CAT活性显著上升,但缺铁处理下的CAT活性与对照无显著差异.2)缺铁处理的根部K、Mg、P含量及缺锌处理的地上部K含量均显著降低;缺铁处理的根部和地上部Zn、Cu含量以及缺锌处理的根部Fe、Mn及地上部Mn含量均显著增高.3)叶肉细胞超微结构变化显著,缺铁胁迫下细胞器受损程度较重,如叶绿体、线粒体空泡化严重,叶绿体膜及类囊体片层模糊,质体小球明显增多,无淀粉粒;而缺锌处理时叶绿体基粒片层排列松散、数目明显减少,质体小球明显增多.     

Role of rye chromosomes in improvement of zinc efficiency in wheat and triticale

Using the disomic wheat-rye addition lines (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Holdfast-Secale cereale L., cv. King-II) and an octoploid triticale line (xTriticosecale Wittmark L. "PlutoxFakon") as well as the respective wheat and rye parents, greenhouse experiments were carried out to study the role of rye chromosomes on the severity of Zn deficiency symptoms, shoot dry matter production, Zn efficiency, shoot Zn concentration and Zn content. Plants were grown in a Zn-deficient calcareous soil with (10 mg Zn kg-1 soil) and without Zn supply. Zinc efficiency was calculated as the ratio of dry weight produced under Zn deficiency to the dry weight produced under Zn fertilization. In the experiments with addition lines, visual Zn deficiency symptoms were slight in the rye cultivar King-II, but were severe in the wheat cultivar Holdfast. The addition of rye chromosomes, particularly 1R, 2R and 7R, into Holdfast reduced the severity of deficiency symptoms. Holdfast showed higher decreases in shoot dry matter production by Zn deficiency and thus had a low Zn efficiency (53 %), while King-II was less affected by Zn deficiency and had a higher Zn efficiency (89 %). With the exception of the 3R line, all addition lines had higher Zn efficiency than their wheat parent: the 1R line had the highest Zn efficiency (80 %). In the experiment with the triticale cultivar and its parents, rye cv. Pluto and wheat cv. Fakon, Zn deficiency symptoms were absent in Pluto, slight in triticale and very severe in Fakon. Zinc efficiency was 88 % for Pluto, 73 % for triticale and 64% for Fakon. Such differences in Zn efficiency were better related to the total amount of Zn per shoot than to the amount of Zn per unit dry weight of shoot. Only in the rye cultivars, Zn efficiency was closely related with Zn concentration. Triticale was more similar to rye than wheat regarding Zn concentration and Zn accumulation per shoot under both Zn-deficient and Zn-sufficient conditions.The results presented in this study show that rye has an exceptionally high Zn efficiency, and the rye chromosomes, particularly 1R and 7R carry the genes controlling Zn efficiency. To our knowledge, the result with triticale and its rye parents is the first report showing that the genes controlling Zn efficiency in rye are transferable into wheat and can be used for development of new wheat varieties with high Zn efficiency for severely Zn-deficient conditions.