Pinpointing genomic loci for drought-induced proline and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in bread wheat under field conditions.

Background: Proline (Pro) and hydrogen peroxide (HO) play a critical role in plants during drought adaptation. Genetic mapping for drought-induced Pro and HO production under field conditions is very limited in crop plants since their phenotyping with large populations is labor-intensive. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of a diversity panel comprised of 184 bread wheat cultivars grown in natural field (control) and rain-out shelter (drought) environments was performed to identify candidate loci and genes regulating Pro and HO accumulation induced by drought.