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. 2025 Apr 30;14(9):1350.
doi: 10.3390/plants14091350.

Winter Wheat Vernalization Alleles and Freezing Tolerance at the Seedling and Jointing Stages

Fangfang Liu  1   2 , Wenxin Cao  1   2 , Qiqi Zhang  1   2 , Yao Li  1   2 , Heng Zhou  1   2 , Yingxiu Wan  1   2
Affiliations

Winter Wheat Vernalization Alleles and Freezing Tolerance at the Seedling and Jointing Stages

Fangfang Liu et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between allelic variation of the vernalization genes (VRN) and the freezing tolerance at the seedling and jointing stages of winter wheat growth. It provides a basis for molecular marker development for freezing tolerance breeding of winter wheat. A total of 435 wheat accessions were used to identify and evaluate the freezing tolerance at the seedling stage using field tests, while 192 wheat accessions were used to evaluate the freezing tolerance at the jointing stage in climate chamber tests. The VRN genes of the wheat accessions were detected using allele-specific markers of the VRN-A1, VRN-B1, VRN-D1 and VRN-B3 loci, and the relationship between VRN genotype and freezing tolerance at the two developmental stages was tested. There were significant differences in freezing tolerance between the wheat accessions. Assessing the freezing tolerance of 52 wheat accessions at both the seedling and jointing stages revealed no significant correlation between tolerance at these two stages. The genotypic analysis found that Vrn-D1 was the most frequent dominant allele in winter wheat, while no accession contained the dominant alleles Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B3. Notably, freezing tolerance showed stage-specific genetic regulation; seedling-stage freezing tolerance strongly correlated with vernalization gene allelic combinations (p < 0.05), whereas jointing-stage freezing tolerance exhibited no such association. The presence of all recessive alleles vrn-A1, vrn-B1, vrn-D1 and vrn-B3 was required for strong seedling-stage freezing tolerance. The VRN-D1 marker was effective for screening freezing tolerance materials under the premise that vrn-A1 and vrn-B1 alleles are recessive at winter wheat seedling stage.

Keywords: freezing tolerance; jointing stage; seedling stage; vernalization gene; winter wheat.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distributions of freezing tolerance of 435 wheat accessions in three environments.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The freezing tolerance of wheat accessions at the jointing stage. (A) Growth performance of different tolerance grades of wheat accessions. (B) Frequency of freezing tolerance of 192 wheat accessions. Freezing tolerance was rated on a one to five grade: G1 = the strongest tolerance, G5 = the weakest tolerance.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Allelic variation detected in the VRN-A1, VRN-B1, VRN-D1 and VRN-B3 loci among nine wheat accessions. Amplification with (A): primers Vrn1-AF/Int1R (uppermost), Intr1-AF2/AR3 (middle) and Intr1-CF/ABR (lowermost); (B): primers of Intr-BF/BR3 and Intr-BF/BR4; (C): primers Intr1-DF/DR3 and Intr1-DF/DR4; (D): primers of VRN4-B-INS-F/R and VRN4-B-NOINS-F/R. M, DL2000; 1, Yannong 19; 2, Yangmai 158; 3, Huaimai 20; 4, Su 553; 5, Huaimai30; 6, Bainong207; 7, Annong 1124; 8, Luo 1106; 9, Qian 110209.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Frequency of alleles of vernalization genes in 435 wheat accessions.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of freezing tolerance between the Vrn-D1 and vrn-D1 genotypes. ** p < 0.01.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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