Identification of Genetic Loci and Candidate Genes Related to the Sensory and Textural Properties of Chinese White Noodles by Genome-wide Association Study Using Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Noodles are a staple food in China, and their quality and sensory characteristics directly affect the consumer’s quality of life. Therefore, dissecting the main traits affecting noodle quality at the molecular level by improving wheat quality breeding is of great significance. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) focusing on the sensory and textural properties of Chinese white noodles (CWNs) was conducted at two different locations over a 2-year period using a high-density genetic map constructed with 90 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays in a panel of 205 elite winter wheat accessions. A total of 80 marker-trait associations (MTAs) (P < 10−4) for 17 sensory and textural properties were mapped on 17 chromosomes, except for chromosomes 1A, 3D, 4B, and 7D. The phenotypic variation explained by a single associated locus ranged from 5.93 to 15.81%. Of these, 34 major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified. Seven quantitative trait locus (QTL) clusters (QTLs ≥ 3) were found on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 3A, 3B, 5A, 6A, and 7A. On chromosome 5A, the QTLs at 93 cM were associated with both the adhesiveness and the extension travel of CWNs. The QTLs at the genetic position 99 cM on chromosome 2A were consistently associated with chewiness, cohesiveness, and gumminess. In addition, the QTLs consistently associated with color, appearance, firmness, stickiness, smoothness, and taste of the noodles were detected on chromosomes 1B, 3A, 4A, 5B, and 6B, respectively. These QTLs were pleiotropic effect loci. The wsnp_Ex_rep_c80588_75758453 locus on chromosome 2A associated with springiness was detected in both E2 and E4 environments. Sixteen new candidate genes related to the sensory and textural qualities of CWNs were predicted in wheat. Of these, six genes (TraesCS7A01G477900, TraesCS5A02G402100, TraesCS6D02G002200, TraesCS1B02G050600.1, TraesCS6A01G000400, and TraesCS2A01G475200) were important in determining CWN quality by regulating glutathione transferase activity, serine-type endopeptidase activity, protein serine/threonine kinase activity, triglyceride lipase activity, glycerate dehydrogenase activity, and phosphoglycerate kinase activity. These results provide important genes/loci in wheat breeding populations involved in enhancing the quality of CWNs by marker-assisted selection (MAS).