Gene discovery and marker development
The Paragon x Landrace cultivar NAM population has been used in the UK WISP programme for the discovery of QTL controlling NUE. Fine mapping of these QTL will be carried out in the present project, focusing on the identification of QTL which are robust when determined under UK and Indian agronomic conditions. We will initially focus on a strong QTL identified for NUE under UK conditions using the Paragon x W209 RIL population.
Candidate genes identified by either literature searches or genotyping/sequencing will be converted to KASP-based markers and used to screen the available materials. Where appropriate genes, including promotor sequences, will be sequenced in the available wheat relatives.
Marker/NUE associations identified can be validated and QTL resolution increased in future studies using the data generated on N response in the spring segregants of the NIAB MAGIC population and accompanying 90K genotype data. The 96 MAGIC RILs will also be screened with the KASP-based markers to identify recombinants and lines with residual heterozygosity for pseudo-NIL creation.