Identification of quantitative trait loci and environmental interactions for accumulation and remobilization of water-soluble carbohydrates in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stems.

Genetic analyses of nine traits associated with stem water-soluble carbohydrate (SWSC) accumulation and remobilization at grain-filling period under drought stress (DS) and well-watered (WW) conditions were undertaken using doubled haploid lines (DHLs) derived from two Chinese common wheat cultivars. Some significantly and very significantly positive correlation was observed among nine traits associated with SWSC. Higher phenotypic values for most traits were detected under DS. Broad sense heritabilities (h(B)(2)) of the traits showed wide fluctuations between two water treatments. A total of 48 additive and 62 pairs of epistatic QTL for nine traits were identified as distributing on all 21 chromosomes. A majority of QTL involved significant additive and epistatic effects with interactions of QTL and environments (QEIs). Two additive and two pairs of epistatic loci involved only QEIs without corresponding significant additive or epistatic effects. The contributions of the additive QEIs were two- to fourfolds higher than those of their corresponding additive QTL. Most of the additive QEIs for traits associated with SWSC interacted with DS. In addition, some QTL for the grain-filling efficiencies and thousand-grain weight were colocated in the same or adjacent chromosome intervals with QTL for accumulation and remobilization efficiency of SWSC before 14 days after flowering.