Characterization and expression quantitative trait loci analysis of <i>TaABI4</i>, a pre-harvest sprouting related gene in wheat

Abstract Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) induced by the absence of seed dormancy causes a severe reduction in crop yield and flour quality. In this study, we isolated characterized TaABI4 , an ABA-responsive transcription factor that participates regulating germination wheat. Sequence analysis revealed has three homologues, located on chromosomes 1A/1B/1D. contains conserved AP2 domain, AP2-associated, LRP potential PEST motifs. Putative cis -acting regulatory elements (CE1-like box, W-box, ABRE RY elements) were identified promoter region showed high conservation 17 wheat cultivars wheat-related species. Expression profiling indicated it is seed-specific gene accumulating during middle stages development. Transcript accumulation cultivar Chuanmai 32 (CM32, PHS susceptible) was 5.07-fold 1.39-fold higher than synthetic hexaploidy SHW-L1 (PHS resistant) at 15 20 DPA, respectively. Six expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) 2A, 2D, 3B 4A based accumulated transcripts CM32-derived recombinant inbred lines. These QTLs explained 10.7 to 46.1% variation with 4.53–10.59 LOD scores, which contain genes may affect .