# QTL Mapping of Yield, Agronomic, and Nitrogen-Related Traits in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under Low Nitrogen and Normal Nitrogen Treatments

## TL;DR

This study identifies genetic regions in barley linked to yield and nitrogen-related traits under low and normal nitrogen conditions, aiding in breeding better barley varieties.

## Contribution

The study discovers novel and stable QTL for barley traits under varying nitrogen conditions, supporting marker-assisted breeding.

## Key findings

- Seventeen QTL were identified, including eight expressed under both low and normal nitrogen conditions.
- Four stable QTL for thousand-grain weight, plant height, spike length, and awn length were identified.
- A significant negative correlation was found between grain nitrogen content and harvest index.

## Abstract

Improving low nitrogen (LN) tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) increases global barley yield and quality. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population crossed between “Baudin × CN4079” was used to conduct field experiments on twenty traits of barley yield, agronomy, and nitrogen(N)-related traits under LN and normal nitrogen (NN) treatments for two years. This study identified seventeen QTL, comprising eight QTL expressed under both LN and NN treatments, eight LN-specific QTL, and one NN-specific QTL. The localized C2 cluster contained QTL controlling yield, agronomic, and N-related traits. Of the four novel QTL, the expression of the N-related QTL Qstna.sau-5H and Qnhi.sau-5H was unaffected by N treatment. Qtgw.sau-2H for thousand-grain weight, Qph.sau-3H for plant height, Qsl.sau-7H for spike length, and Qal.sau-7H for awn length were identified to be the four stable expression QTL. Correlation studies revealed a significant negative correlation between grain N content and harvest index (p < 0.01). These results are essential for barley marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding.