Abstract: Parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics (PCFKs) under drought stress condition are generally used to characterize instincts for dehydration tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Therefore, it is important to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PCFKs in wheat genetic improvement for drought tolerance. A doubled haploid (DH) population with 150 lines, derived from a cross between two common wheat varieties, Hanxuan 10 and Lumai 14, was used to analyze the correlation between PCFKs and chlorophyll content (ChlC) and to map QTLs at the grain-filling stage under conditions of both rainfed (drought stress, DS) and well-watered (WW), respectively. QTLs for these traits were detected by QTLMapper version 1.0 based on the composite interval mapping method of the mixed-linear model. The results showed a very significant positive correlation between Fv, Fm, Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo. The correlation coefficients were generally higher under WW than under DS. Also, there was a significant or a highly significant positive correlation between Fv, Fm, Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo and ChlC. The correlation coefficients were higher in the DS group than the WW group. A total of 14 additive QTLs (nine QTLs detected under DS and five QTLs under WW) and 25 pairs of epistatic QTLs (15 pairs detected under DS and 10 pairs under WW) for PCFKs were mapped on chromosomes 6A, 7A, 1B, 3B, 4D and 7D. The contributions of additive QTLs for PCFKs to phenotype variation were from 8.40% to 72.72%. Four additive QTLs (two QTLs detected under DS and WW apiece) controlling ChlC were mapped on chromosomes 1A, 5A and 7A. The contributions of these QTLs for ChlC to phenotype variation were from 7.27% to 11.68%. Several QTL clusters were detected on chromosomes 1B, 7A and 7D, but no shared chromosomal regions for them were identified under different water regimes, indicating that these QTLs performed different expression patterns under rainfed and well-watered conditions.

Key words: additive effect, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, epistasis, mapping, quantitative trait loci, Triticum aestivum.