Shattering is an essential seed dispersal mechanism in wild species. It is believed that independent mutations at orthologous loci led to convergent domestication of cereal crops. To investigate genetic relationships of Triticeae shattering genes with those of other grasses, we mapped spike-, barrel- (B-type), and wedge-type (W-type) spikelet disarticulation genes in wheat and its wild relatives. The
Br1 gene for W-type disarticulation was mapped to a region delimited by
Xpsr598 and
Xpsr1196 on the short arm of chromosomes 3A in
Triticum timopheevii and 3S in
Aegilops speltoides. The spike- and W-type disarticulation genes are allelic at
Br1 in
Ae. speltoides. The B-type disarticulation gene, designated as
Br2, was mapped to an interval of 4.4 cM between
Xmwg2013 and
Xpsr170 on the long arm of chromosome 3D in
Aegilops tauschii, the D-genome donor of common wheat. Therefore, B- and W-type disarticulations are governed by two different orthologous loci on group-3 chromosomes. Based on map position, orthologs of
Br1 and
Br2 were not detected in barley, maize, rice, and sorghum, indicating multiple genetic pathways for shattering in grasses. The implications of the mapping results are discussed with regard to the evolution of polyploid wheat and domestication of cereals.
Keywords Shattering - Domestication - Molecular mapping - Wheat - Grass