Molecular analysis for detecting genetic variability at the NAM-A1 locus in a collection of wheat varieties,

old populations, lines and wild species

Elena-Laura Conțescu, Daniel Cristina, Matilda Ciucă, Elena Partal, Gabriel Anton, Alina Turcu

NARDI Fundulea

Keywords: genetic variability, NAM loci, grain quality, molecular markers

Abstract: The key determinant of novel wheat varieties market potential and economic worth is wheat grain quality, a characteristic that influences both the nutritional content and the quality of food processing. The NAC transcription factor, which is encoded by the "No Apical Meristem" (NAM) gene, contributes to senescence acceleration by boosting the remobilization of nutrients from leaf tissues to growing grains. Two homeologs (on chromosomes 6A and 6D) and three paralogs (on chromosomes 2A, 2B, and 2D) make up hexaploid wheat's five NAM genes. Of these, NAM-A1 (6A) functions is similarly to NAM-B1 (Gpc-B1), which has positive effects on baking qualities and nutritional value of cereals. This study aimed to detect allelic variants at the level of the NAM-A1 locus, by using the KASP technique, respectively two molecular markers related to SNPs 1 and 2. Analyzes of the 102 varieties, lines, old populations of wheat and 44 genotypes of wild species highlighted the predominant presence of the T allele for SNP-1 and A allele for SNP-2, resulting in the haplotypes NAM-A1a, NAM-A1c and NAM-A1d but also some heterozygotes haplotypes. The analysis of the 44 wild species revealed the presence of the C allele for SNP-1 and the A allele for SNP-2, resulting in the haplotypes NAM-A1a and NAM-A1c but also heterozygous haplotypes. To identify the role of the NAM-A1, NAM-B1 and NAM-D1 genes in wheat and also the most favourable allelic combinations unique to each growing environment, more research is required to better understand the function these and their interactions with the environment.