QTL Mapping for Higher Seed Zn Concentration and Content in Baley using SSR Markers

There is a little information regarding the chromosomal regions conferring seed zinc accumulation in barley. With the aim of QTL mapping of Zn concentration and content, 121 barley genotypes (including local landraces, released cultivars, gene bank germplasm) were screened under field conditions. The trial was conducted in square latice in 2015-2017 cropping seasons at dryland agricultural research institute (DARI) in Maragheh. To construct genetic linkage map, 149 SSR markers were applied. Based on ANOVA, there was a great genotypic variation for seed Zn concentration and content among the genotypes, which approves the excessive diversity of genotypes. Five QTLs located on 2H, 3H, 4H and 5H were associated with seed Zn concentration, and could explain 81% of total phenotypic variation. Marker BMAG0720 had the highest (25%) phenotypic variation. This marker could also explain 23% of total variation for seed Zn content. Moreover, 5 genomic regions on 2H, 3H and and 4H were associated with seed Zn content. In conclusion, the identification of these major QTLs would provide an important starting point for marker assisted selection (MAS) that may contribute to the improvement of barley productivity and nutritional quality.