Earliness per se (Eps) genes are reported to be important in fine-tuning flowering time in wheat independently of photoperiod (Ppd) and vernalisation (Vrn). Unlike Ppd and Vrn genes, Eps have relatively small effects and their physiological effect along with chromosomal position are not well defined. We evaluated eight lines derived from crossing Paragon and Baj (late and early flowering respectively), vernalisation insensitive, to study the detailed effects of two newly identified QTLs, Eps-7D and Eps-2B and their interactions under field conditions. The effect of both QTLs were minor but their effect was modulated by the allelic status of the other. While the magnitude of effect of these QTLs on anthesis was similar, they are associated with very different profiles of pre-anthesis development which also depends on their interaction. Eps-7D affected both duration before and after terminal spikelet while not affecting final leaf number (FLN) so Eps-7D-early had a faster rate of leaf appearance. Eps-2B acted more specifically in the early reproductive phase and slightly altered FLN without affecting the leaf appearance rate. Both Eps-7D and 2B affected the spike fertility by altering the rate of floret development and mortality. The effect of the latter was very small but consistent in that the -late allele tended to produced more fertile florets.

中文翻译：

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花期发育的两个QTL之间的相互作用对小麦的穗增长和育性的影响

据报道，早熟本身（Eps）基因对于微调小麦的开花时间非常重要，而与光周期（Ppd）和春化作用（Vrn）无关。与Ppd和Vrn基因不同，Eps的作用相对较小，并且它们的生理作用以及染色体位置尚不明确。我们评估了八株衍生自杂交的Paragon和Baj（分别为晚花和早花）的植物，对春化反应不敏感，以研究两个新鉴定的QTL（Eps-7D和Eps-2B）的详细效果及其在田间条件下的相互作用。两个QTL的影响均较小，但它们的影响受另一个等位基因状态的调节。尽管这些QTL对花药的影响大小相似，但它们与花前发育的非常不同的概况相关，这也取决于它们的相互作用。Eps-7D影响末端小穗之前和之后的持续时间，但不影响最终叶片数（FLN），因此Eps-7D-early具有更快的叶片外观速率。Eps-2B在生殖的早期阶段起着更特定的作用，并且FLN略有改变，而不会影响叶片的出现率。Eps-7D和2B都通过改变小花发育和死亡率来影响穗的繁殖力。后者的作用很小，但是一致的是-晚期等位基因倾向于产生更多可育的小花。Eps-7D和2B都通过改变小花发育和死亡率来影响穗的繁殖力。后者的作用很小，但是一致的是-晚期等位基因倾向于产生更多可育的小花。Eps-7D和2B都通过改变小花发育和死亡率来影响穗的繁殖力。后者的作用很小，但是一致的是-晚期等位基因倾向于产生更多可育的小花。