Genetic diversity of grain yield traits and identification of a grain weight gene SiTGW6 in foxtail millet

In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 1250 foxtail millet varieties, assessing seven grain yield-related traits and fourteen common agronomic traits over two years. Principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between 1000-grain weight and grain width with grain yield, emphasizing their importance in foxtail millet breeding. Additionally, we found that panicle weight positively correlated with 1000-grain weight but negatively correlated with branch and tiller numbers, indicating selection factors during domestication and breeding. Using this information, we identified 27 germplasm resources suitable for high-yield foxtail millet breeding. Furthermore, through an integration of haplotype variations and phenotype association analysis, we pinpointed a crucial gene, SiTGW6, responsible for governing grain yield in foxtail millet. SiTGW6 encodes an IAA-glucose hydrolase, primarily localized in the cytoplasm and predominantly expressed in flowering panicles. Employing RNAseq analysis, we identified 1439 differentially expressed genes across various SiTGW6 haplotypes. Functional enrichment analysis indicating that SiTGW6 regulates grain yield through the orchestration of auxin and glucan metabolism, as well as plant hormone signaling pathways. Additionally, we have identified elite haplotypes and developed dCAPS markers for SiTGW6, providing valuable technical tools to facilitate molecular breedin...

Source: TAG. Theoretical and Applied Genetics - March 17, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Hui Zhang Sha Tang Honglu Wang Yannan Wang Hui Zhi Bin Liu Renliang Zhang Qian Ma Guanqing Jia Baili Feng Xianmin Diao Source Type: research