Large-scale GWAS in sorghum reveals common genetic control of grain size among cereals

Summary Grain size is a key yield component of cereal crops and a major quality attribute. It is determined by a genotype’s genetic potential and its capacity to fill the grains. This study aims to dissect the genetic architecture of grain size in sorghum via an integrated genome wide association study (GWAS) using a diversity panel of 837 individuals and a BC-NAM population of 1,421 individuals. In order to isolate genetic effects associated with grain size, rather than the genotype’s capacity to fill grain, a field treatment of removing half of the panicle during flowering was imposed. Extensive variation in grain size with high heritability was observed in both populations across 5 field trials. Subsequent GWAS analyses uncovered 92 grain size QTL, which were significantly enriched for orthologues of known grain size genes in rice and maize. Significant overlap between the 92 QTL and grain size QTL in rice and maize was also found, supporting common genetic control of this trait among cereals. Further analysis found grain size genes with opposite effect on grain number were less likely to overlap with the grain size QTL from this study, indicating the treatment facilitated identification of genetic regions related to the genetic potential of grain size rather than the capacity to fill the grain. These results enhance understanding of the genetic architecture of grain size in cereal, and pave the way for exploration of underlying molecular mechanisms in cereal crops and manipulation of this trait in breeding practices.