Identification of SNP Markers Associated with Grain Quality Traits in a Barley Collection (Hordeum vulgare L.) Harvested in Kazakhstan

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a cereal crop traditionally used in animal feed, malting, and food production. In this study, collection of barley was analyzed according to key grain quality traits, including protein content (GPC), starch (GSC), extractivity (EX), test weight per liter (TWL). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with GPC, GSC, EX, TWL using 658 accessions from USA Kazakhstan. The grown at three breeding organizations Kazakhstan 2010 2011 genotyped 9K SNP Illumina chip. As result, 18 marker-trait associations (MTAs) for 19 MTAs 12 27 were detected, resulting 30 identified QTLs. It shown that genetic locations 25 these QTLs similar positions genes previously reported scientific literature, suggesting 5 remaining are novel putative factors studied traits. Five most significant markers (p < 2.6 × 10−5) traits GWAS development reliable informative competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) genotyping assays. effectiveness two assays (ipbb_hv_6 ipbb_hv_128) confirmed via validation separate lines large field plots northern Therefore, KASP can be efficiently marker-assisted selection breeding.