Genome-wide association and targeted transcriptomic analyses reveal loci and candidate genes regulating preharvest sprouting in barley.

KEY MESSAGE: Genome-wide association study of diverse barley genotypes identified loci, single nucleotide polymorphisms and candidate genes that control seed dormancy and therefore enhance resistance to preharvest sprouting. Preharvest sprouting (PHS) causes significant yield and quality loss in barley and it is strongly associated with the level of seed dormancy. This study performed genome-wide association study using a collection of 255 diverse barley genotypes grown over four environments to identify loci controlling dormancy/PHS. Our phenotypic analysis revealed substantial variation in germination index/dormancy levels among the barley genotypes. Marker-trait association and linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay analyses identified 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two QTLs associated with dormancy/PHS, respectively, on chromosome 3H and 5H explaining 6.9% to 11.1% of the phenotypic variation. QTL.5H consist of 14 SNPs of which 12 SNPs satisfy the FDR threshold of α = 0.05, and it may represent the SD2 locus. The QTL on 3H consists of one SNP that doesn't satisfy FDR (α = 0.05). Genes harbouring the significant SNPs were analyzed for their expression pattern in the seeds of selected dormant and non-dormant genotypes. Of these genes, HvRCD1, HvPSRP1 and HvF3H exhibited differential expression between the dormant and non-dormant seed samples, suggesting their role in controlling seed dormancy/PHS. Three SNPs located within the differentially expressed genes residing in QTL.5H explained considerable phenotypic variation (≥ 8.6%), suggesting their importance in regulating PHS resistance. Analysis of the SNP marker data in QTL.5H identified a haplotype for PHS resistance. Overall, the study identified loci, SNPs and candidate genes that control dormancy and therefore play important roles in enhancing PHS resistance in barley through marker-assisted breeding.