Molecular detection of QTLs for flour quality traits in two doubled haploid populations in spring wheat under heat stress

Wheat flour quality is a complex group of traits of tremendous importance to wheat producers, end-users and breeders. Eight flour quality traits; flour protein content, wet gluten content, gluten index, dry gluten content, falling number, ash content, test weight and flour moisture were measured in two doubled haploid populations (Yecora Rojo X Ksu106 and Klassic × Ksu105) at Riyadh and Al-Qassim locations under heat treatments. Single-nucleotide polymorphism markers have been used to determine the number of QTLs controlling the flour quality traits in both populations. Analysis of variance revealed high significant differences (P < 0.01) for all traits among wheat genotypes and between locations in both populations. The wheat genotypes × location interaction was high significant in both populations. A total of 58 additive QTLs were detected for the eight flour quality traits in the Yecora Rojo × Ksu106 population at Riyadh and Al-Qassim locations under heat treatments. They were mainly distributed over the 21 wheat chromosomes except 4B and 4D chromosomes. Moreover, in Klassic × Ksu105 population, there were 69 additive QTLs identified over the full set of chromosomes except 3D chromosome under two locations. This study will facilitate the generation of improved wheat varieties with good quality via molecular marker-assisted breeding.