Genetic Dissection of Grain Zinc and Iron Concentration, Protein Content, Test Weight and Thousand Kernel Weight in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) through Genome Wide Association Study

Malnutrition due to micronutrients and protein deficiency is recognized among the major global health issues. Genetic biofortification of wheat varieties is both cost-effective and sustainable strategy to contain global micronutrient and protein malnutrition. Genomic regions governing grain zinc concentration (GZnC), grain iron concentration (GFeC), grain protein content (GPC), test weight (TW), and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were investigated in a set of 183 diverse bread wheat genotypes through genome wide association study (GWAS). The RIL population was genotyped using Breeders' 35K Axiom Array and phenotyped in three environments during 2019-2020. A total of 55 marker-trait associations (MTAs) were identified, of which four significant MTAs for GFeC on chromosome 2B, 3A, 3B, 6A and two for GZnC on chromosomes 1A and 7B. Further, a stable SNP was detected for TKW and also identified pleiotropic regions controlling GPC and TKW. In silico analysis revealed a few important putative candidate genes viz., F-box-like domain superfamily, Zinc finger CCCH-type proteins, Serine-threonine/tyrosine-protein kinase, Histone deacetylase domain superfamily and SANT/Myb domain superfamily proteins , etc. The identified novel MTAs will be validated to estimate their effects on different genetic backgrounds for subsequent use in marker-assisted selection (MAS).