Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) Controlling Heading Time in the Population Generated from a Cross between Oriental and Occidental Barley Cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to identify QTLs controlling heading time of barley. A total of 89 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) generated from a cross between the Oriental-type winter cultivar ‘Azumamugi’ and the Occidental-type spring cultivar ‘Kanto Nakate Gold’ were examined. Two field experiments consisting of one spring sowing and one autumn sowing and a greenhouse experiment under 24 h illumination were conducted. Two genes for the spring habit and five QTLs controlling heading time were identified. The two genes for the spring habit, sgh1 and Sgh2 were located on chromosomes 4HL and 5HL, respectively; four QTLs were mapped close to the heading time genes identified in the previous studies on chromosomes 1HL, 2HS, 2HL and 7HS; and one was a new QTL detected on chromosome 7H.