The 55K SNP-Based Exploration of QTLs for Spikelet Number Per Spike in a Tetraploid Wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) Population: Chinese Landrace “Ailanmai” × Wild Emmer

Spikelet number per spike (SNS) is the primary factor that determines wheat yield. Common breeding reduces genetic diversity among elite germplasm resources, leading to a detrimental effect on future production. It is, therefore, necessary explore new resources for SNS increase A tetraploid landrace “Ailanmai” × wild emmer recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was used construct map using 55K single- nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. The linkage containing 1,150 bin markers with total distance of 2,411.8 cm obtained. Based phenotypic data from eight environments and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values, five quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified, explaining 6.71–29.40% variation. Two them, QSns.sau-AM-2B.2 QSns.sau-AM-3B.2 , detected as major novel QTL. Their effects further validated in two additional F 2 populations tightly linked kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers. Potential candidate genes within physical intervals corresponding QTLs predicted participate inflorescence development spikelet formation. Genetic associations between other agronomic traits also analyzed. This study demonstrates feasibility SNP array developed common mapping shows potential application wheat-related species improvement programs.