The aim of this study was to investigate long‐term genetic trends and the genetic architecture of grain yield, seed characteristics and correlated agronomic traits in triticale. Therefore, a panel of 846 diverse triticale genotypes was assessed for three agronomic and three seed shape‐ and size‐related traits. We observed a high genotypic variation and a high heritability for all traits. Analysing the development of these traits during the last decades revealed a continuous increase for grain yield and thousand‐kernel weight, and a slight increase in seed width. The seed characteristics and thousand‐kernel weight formed a complex of highly positive correlated traits. Genome‐wide association mapping revealed many small‐effect QTL and a few moderate‐effect QTL. The allele frequencies of the moderate‐effect QTL followed the same temporal trends as observed for the phenotype. In line with the phenotypic correlations, we identified several pleiotropic QTL for grain yield, thousand‐kernel weight, seed width and seed area. Our results illustrate the continuous progress achieved in triticale breeding and suggest that triticale seeds have been selected to be more spherical in modern cultivars.

中文翻译：

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黑小麦种子特性，籽粒产量和相关农艺性状的长期趋势和遗传结构（×Triticosecale Wittmack）

本研究的目的是调查黑小麦的长期遗传趋势和谷物产量，种子特性及相关农艺性状的遗传结构。因此，对一组846种不同的小黑麦基因型进行了评估，评估了三种农艺性状和三种与种子形状和大小相关的性状。我们观察到高遗传型变异和高遗传力的所有性状。分析过去几十年来这些性状的发展，发现谷物产量和千粒重不断增加，种子宽度略有增加。种子特性和千粒重构成了高度正相关的性状复合体。全基因组关联图谱揭示了许多小效应QTL和一些中效QTL。中效QTL的等位基因频率遵循与表型相同的时间趋势。根据表型相关性，我们确定了几个多效性QTL，用于籽粒产量，千粒重，种子宽度和种子面积。我们的结果说明了在黑小麦育种中取得的持续进展，并表明黑小麦种子已被选择为在现代品种中更球形。