Mapping novel QTLs for tolerance to salt stress at the late vegetative stage in durum wheat (Triticum durum L.)

Salt stress adversely affects the global durum wheat productivity. Breeding for salinity tolerance is an effective approach to improve crop production under saline conditions provided it is based on a good understanding of the genetic control of salinity tolerance. The present study was conducted, at the university of Tsukuba (in 2014), with the objective of mapping QTLs conferring salt tolerance in F2:3 populations of durum wheat derived from a cross between Razzek (salt sensitive variety) and Saragolla (salt tolerant variety). Two QTLs for salt tolerance were detected on chromosome 4B and 5B conferring the proportion of dead leaves with major effects. These two QTLs, which explained 68% of total phenotypic variation of %DL are an ideal candidate for Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) in wheat breeding programs and selection strategies to increase wheat production under saline conditions in order to meet the increasing global demand.