The Hot QTL Locations for Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Nutrition and Agronomic Traits at Seedling and Maturity Stages of Wheat under Different Potassium Treatments

Abstract

Potassium (K) is one of the most important mineral nutrients for wheat. In this study, the effects of low K (LK) treatments and the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) use efficiency traits, both at the seedling and maturity stages of wheat, were investigated. The set of “Tainong 18 × Linmai 6” recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were used to identify the QTLs under different K treatments using hydroponic culture and field trials. The majority of K concentrations and content-related traits at seedling and maturity stages decreased with reduced K supply, but the K use efficiency-related traits increased. In contrast, with reduced K supply, the contents of Ca and Mg increased, while the Ca and Mg use efficiency decreased. A total of 217 QTLs for seedling traits and 89 QTLs for adult traits were detected. Four relatively high-frequency QTLs (RHF-QTLs) and 18 QTL clusters (colocation of QTLs for more than two traits) were detected. Eight clusters were detected for K-, Ca-, and Mg-related traits simultaneously. This means that these traits might be controlled by the same QTL. In addition, we highlight that 4B might be an important chromosome regulating the nutrition of K, Ca, and Mg in wheat. The 4B chromosome and four hot QTL clusters, which located 45 QTLs, might be important potential targets for further investigation.