Genetic characterization of root architectural traits in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) germplasm using SNP markers

Increasing attention is paid to providing tools to breeders to underpin targeted breeding for specific root traits that may be useful in low-fertility, drying soils; however, such information is not available for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). We phenotyped 191 barley accessions from Australia for 26 root and shoot traits using the established semi-hydroponic system, and identified significant variation (CV >=0.25) for 16 of the traits evaluated. The population structure and marker-trait association (MTA) were assessed using 21,061 high-quality genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS)-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The population structure analysis of the barley panel identified six distinct groups. A total of 435 significant (P Keywords: Barley, genotyping-by-sequencing, SNP markers, association mapping, root traits