Marker assisted selection (MAS) is a powerful tool for traits like grain protein content (GPC)
of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. convar durum), which exhibits high genotype-environment
interaction leading to low heritability. In a previous work, undertaken to identify molecular markers
associated with QTLs for GPC in durum wheat, Blanco et al. (2011) identified some QTLs in the
RIL mapping population Svevo x Ciccio evaluated under different enviromental conditions. In
order to employ these QTLs in breeding programs, additional studies are necessary to validate them
in different genetic backgrounds where the GPC loci should be expressed without penalties on grain
yield. A good way is to verify the effects of the QTLs in a different mapping population. An
alternative way is to obtain near isogenic lines (NILs) for the two alleles of the target QTL using the
markers identified for that QTL.
Three QTLs, localized on chromosome arms 1AL, 2AS, and 4AL, respectively, were
validated in a recombinant inbred line population developed by crossing the durum wheat cultivars
Svevo and Duilio and evaluated in two environments for three years. Selection for the positive
allele resulted in 0.12 to 0.22% increase in GPC. The molecular markers Xgwm95 and Xgwm339,
significantly associated with the grain protein content, showed little effect on yield in most
environments.
Six NILs sets, each consisting of two homozygous genotypes, were developed starting from
heterozygous lines at the marker associated with the grain protein QTL on chromosome arms 1AL,
2AS and 3BS from the RIL Svevo x Ciccio. The phenotypic analysis were performed on two
genotypes of each NIL grown in two environments for two years and evaluated for grain protein
content and grain yield per spike. The QTL for GPC located on 2AS, associated with Xgwm339,
was validated in different environmental conditions and was not correlated with yield per spike. The
Svevo allele at this marker showed an additive effect on GPC (0.25 to 0.40%). Given the consistent
expression pattern in multiple populations and environments, Xgwm339 can be used for markerassisted
selection for high GPC.