Candidate genes for pre-harvest sprouting tolerance on wheat chromosome 4A

A major QTL was identified on chromosome 4A for dormancy and pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) tolerance in the cross RL4452 x AC Domain (Cabral et al. 2014). The region contains several candidate genes including a plasma membrane protein identified in Australian wheat (Barello et al. 2015) and a gene encoding the transcript with the highest differential expression between dormant and non-dormant lines of the population in a microarray assay. Genetic markers suitable for breeding purposes spanning the QTL region have been produced. Lines in the population that are recombinant between the markers were assessed for dormancy. Lines carrying the AC Domain allele at both markers were the most dormant. The evidence supports the theory that more than one gene in the 4A QTL contributes to the enhanced dormancy of AC Domain.