Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Molecular characterisation of the NAM-1 genes in bread wheat in Australia

Rongchang Yang A , Angela Juhasz A , Yujuan Zhang A , Xueyan Chen A , Yinjun Zhang A , Maoyun She A , Jingjuan Zhang A , Rowan Maddern A , Ian Edwards B , Dean Diepeveen A , Shahidul Islam A and Wujun Ma A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Australia China Centre for Wheat Improvement, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

B Edstar Genetics, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: W.Ma@murdoch.edu.au

Crop and Pasture Science 69(12) 1173-1181 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP18273
Submitted: 13 June 2018  Accepted: 4 October 2018   Published: 13 December 2018

Abstract

The wheat NAM-B1 and NAM-A1 genes are positively associated with grain protein content (GPC) in wheat. We conducted molecular characterisation of the NAM-1 genes in 51 Australian wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.), with the aim of improving GPC and nitrogen-usage efficiency in Australian wheat. In summary, the wild type NAM-B1 gene, which originated from Israel, was identified in two Australian wheat varieties. Five varieties contained a deletion allele, whereas the majority (43) harboured a non-functional NAM-B1 allele and one variety contained both functional and non-functional alleles. Twenty-six Australian wheat varieties contained the NAM-A1a haplotype, which was similar to its well-characterised homoeolog NAM-B1 wild type and associated with high GPC. The NAM-D1 gene in the 51 wheat varieties was also characterised, and no gene variation in the exon regions was noted; only two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in introns 1 and 2 were found among the 51 varieties.

Additional keywords: NAM gene alleles, nitrogen use efficiency, senescence, SNP, wheat protein efficiency.


References

Anderson OD, Gu YQ, Kong X, Lazo GR, Wu J (2009) The wheat ω-gliadin genes: structure and EST analysis. Functional & Integrative Genomics 9, 397–410.
The wheat ω-gliadin genes: structure and EST analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Asplund L, Hagenblad J, Leino MW (2010) Re-evaluating the history of the wheat domestication gene NAM-B1 using historical plant material. Journal of Archaeological Science 37, 2303–2307.
Re-evaluating the history of the wheat domestication gene NAM-B1 using historical plant material.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Avivi L (1978) High GPC in wild tetraploid wheat Triticum dicoccoides Korn. In ‘Proceedings 5th International Wheat Genetics Symposium’. New Delhi, India. pp. 372–380. (Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding: New Delhi)

Avni R, Zhao R, Pearce S, Jun Y, Uauy C, Tabbita F, Fahima T, Slade A, Dubcovsky J, Distelfeld A (2014) Functional characterization of Gpc-1 genes in hexaploid wheat. Planta 239, 313–324.
Functional characterization of Gpc-1 genes in hexaploid wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Borrill P, Harrington SA, Uauy C (2017) Genome-wide sequence and expression analysis of the NAC transcription factor family in polyploid wheat. Genes Genomes Genetics 7, 3019–3029.

Brevis JC, Dubcovsky J (2010) Effects of the chromosome region including the Gpc-B1 locus on wheat grain and protein yield. Crop Science 50, 93–104.
Effects of the chromosome region including the Gpc-B1 locus on wheat grain and protein yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cantrell RG, Joppa LR (1991) Genetic analysis of quantitative traits in wild emmer (Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides). Crop Science 31, 645–649.
Genetic analysis of quantitative traits in wild emmer (Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Carter AH, Santra DK, Kidwell KK (2012) Assessment of the effects of the Gpc-B1 allele on senescence rate, grain protein concentration and mineral content in hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from the Pacific Northwest Region of the USA. Plant Breeding 131, 62–68.
Assessment of the effects of the Gpc-B1 allele on senescence rate, grain protein concentration and mineral content in hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from the Pacific Northwest Region of the USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chee PW, Elias EM, Anderson JA, Kianian SF (2001) Evaluation of a high grain protein QTL from Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides in an adapted durum wheat background. Crop Science 41, 295–301.
Evaluation of a high grain protein QTL from Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides in an adapted durum wheat background.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chen X (2016) Study on quality related genes avenin-like B and NAM-B1 of wheat and related species. PhD Thesis, China Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.

Chen XY, Song GQ, Zahng SJ, Li YL, Gao J, Islam S, Ma WJ, Li GY, Ji WQ (2017) The allelic distribution and variation analysis of the NAM-B1 gene in Chinese wheat cultivars. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 16, 1294–1303.

Cormier F, Throude M, Ravel C, Le Gouis J, Leveugle M, Lafarge S, Exbrayat F, Duranton N, Praud S (2015) Detection of NAM-A1 natural variants in bread wheat reveals differences in haplotype distribution between a worldwide core collection and European elite germplasm. Agronomy 5, 143–151.
Detection of NAM-A1 natural variants in bread wheat reveals differences in haplotype distribution between a worldwide core collection and European elite germplasm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Distelfeld A, Uauy C, Olmos S, Schlatter AR, Dubcovsky J, Fahima T (2004) Microcolinearity between a 2-cM region encompassing the grain protein content locus Gpc-6B1 on wheat chromosome 6B and a 350-kb region on rice chromosome 2. Functional & Integrative Genomics 4, 59–66.
Microcolinearity between a 2-cM region encompassing the grain protein content locus Gpc-6B1 on wheat chromosome 6B and a 350-kb region on rice chromosome 2.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Distelfeld A, Cakmak I, Peleg Z, Ozturk L, Yazici AM, Budak H, Saranga Y, Fahima T (2007) Multiple QTL-effects of wheat Gpc-B1 locus on grain protein and micronutrient concentrations. ‎ Physiologia Plantarum 129, 635–643.
Multiple QTL-effects of wheat Gpc-B1 locus on grain protein and micronutrient concentrations. ‎Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dubcovsky J, Dvorak J (2007) Genome plasticity a key factor in the success of polyploid wheat under domestication. Science 316, 1862–1866.
Genome plasticity a key factor in the success of polyploid wheat under domestication.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Eagles HA, McLean R, Eastwood RF, Appelbee M-J, Cane K, Martin PJ, Wallwork H (2014) High-yielding lines of wheat carrying Gpc-B1 adapted to Mediterranean-type environments of the south and west of Australia. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 854–861.
High-yielding lines of wheat carrying Gpc-B1 adapted to Mediterranean-type environments of the south and west of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gonzalez JM, Zimmermann J, Saiz-Jimenez C (2005) Evaluating putative chimeric sequences from PCR-amplified products. Bioinformatics 21, 333–337.
Evaluating putative chimeric sequences from PCR-amplified products.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Grama A, Cressey PJ, Lindley T (1987) Hexaploid wild emmer wheat derivatives grown under New Zealand conditions. 1. Relationship between protein composition and parameters. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 30, 35–43.
Hexaploid wild emmer wheat derivatives grown under New Zealand conditions. 1. Relationship between protein composition and parameters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hagenblad J, Asplund L, Balfourier F, Ravel C, Leino MW (2012) Strong presence of the high grain protein content allele of NAM-B1 in Fennoscandian wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 125, 1677–1686.
Strong presence of the high grain protein content allele of NAM-B1 in Fennoscandian wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Joppa LR, Du C, Hart GE, Hareland GA (1997) Mapping gene(s) for grain protein in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) using a population of recombinant inbred chromosome lines. Crop Science 37, 1586–1589.
Mapping gene(s) for grain protein in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) using a population of recombinant inbred chromosome lines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kade M, Barneix AJ, Olmos S, Dubcovsky J (2005) Nitrogen uptake and remobilization in tetraploid ‘Langdon’ durum wheat and a recombinant substitution line with the high grain protein gene Gpc-B1. Plant Breeding 124, 343–349.
Nitrogen uptake and remobilization in tetraploid ‘Langdon’ durum wheat and a recombinant substitution line with the high grain protein gene Gpc-B1.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Leino MW, Hagenblad J, Edqvist J, Strese EMK (2009) DNA preservation and utility of a historic seed collection. Seed Science Research 19, 125–135.
DNA preservation and utility of a historic seed collection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lundström M, Leino MW, Hagenblad J (2017) Evolutionary history of the NAM-B1 gene in wild and domesticated tetraploid wheat. BMC Genetics 18, 118
Evolutionary history of the NAM-B1 gene in wild and domesticated tetraploid wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nagy IJ, Takács I, Juhász A, Tamás L, Bedő Z (2004) Identification and characterization of new chimeric storage protein genes from an old Hungarian wheat variety. Royal Society of Chemistry 1, 66–69.

Olmos S, Distelfeld A, Chicaiza O, Schlatter AR, Fahima T, Echenique V, Dubcovsky J (2003) Precise mapping of a locus affecting grain protein content in durum wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 107, 1243–1251.
Precise mapping of a locus affecting grain protein content in durum wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pearce S, Tabbita F, Cantu D, Buffalo V, Avni R, Vazquez-Gross H, Zhao R, Conley CJ, Distelfeld A, Dubcovksy J (2014) Regulation of Zn and Fe transporters by the GPC1 gene during early wheat monocarpic senescence. BMC Plant Biology 14, 368
Regulation of Zn and Fe transporters by the GPC1 gene during early wheat monocarpic senescence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sambrook J, Russell D (2001) ‘Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual.’ 3rd edn. (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA)

Tabbita F, Lewis S, Vouilloz JP, Ortega MA, Kade M, Abbate PE, Barneix AJ (2013) Effects of the Gpc-B1 locus on high grain protein content introgressed into Argentinean wheat germplasm. Plant Breeding 132, 48–52.
Effects of the Gpc-B1 locus on high grain protein content introgressed into Argentinean wheat germplasm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tabbita F, Pearce S, Barneix AJ (2017) Breeding for increased grain protein and micronutrient content in wheat: ten years of the GPC-B1 gene. Journal of Cereal Science 73, 183–191.
Breeding for increased grain protein and micronutrient content in wheat: ten years of the GPC-B1 gene.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Uauy C, Juan CB, Jorge D (2006a) The high grain protein content gene Gpc-B1 accelerates senescence and has pleiotropic effects on protein content in wheat. Journal of Experimental Botany 57, 2785–2794.
The high grain protein content gene Gpc-B1 accelerates senescence and has pleiotropic effects on protein content in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Uauy C, Distelfeld A, Fahima T, Blechl A, Dubcovsky J (2006b) A NAC gene regulating senescence improves grain protein, zinc, and iron content in wheat. Science 314, 1298–1301.
A NAC gene regulating senescence improves grain protein, zinc, and iron content in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vishwakarma MK, Mishra VK, Gupta PK, Yadav PS, Kumar H, Joshi AK (2014) Introgression of the high grain protein gene Gpc-B1 in an elite wheat variety of Indo-Gangetic plains through marker assisted backcross breeding. Current Plant Biology 1, 60–67.
Introgression of the high grain protein gene Gpc-B1 in an elite wheat variety of Indo-Gangetic plains through marker assisted backcross breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vishwakarma MK, Arun B, Mishra VK, Yadav PS, Kumar H, Joshi AK (2016) Marker-assisted improvement of grain protein content and grain weight in Indian bread wheat. Euphytica 208, 313–321.
Marker-assisted improvement of grain protein content and grain weight in Indian bread wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |