Validating a segment on the short arm of chromosome 6 responsible for genetic variation in the hull silicon content and yield traits of rice

Rice is a typical silicon-accumulating plant and the beneficial effect of silicon on rice has long been recognized. In a previous study using 244 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of an indica rice cross, Zhenshan 97B/Milyang 46 grown in 2003, four QTLs were detected for hull silicon content. QTL qHUS-6 had the largest effect among these, and the same interval also had significant effects on yield traits in the same population. The primary objective of this study was to validate the QTL effect in this region on HUS and yield traits. The same RIL population and another RIL population of lower heterogeneity were grown in 2004. QTL qHUS-6 was found to have significant additive effects on hull silicon content with a consistent direction in the two populations. From a residual heterozygous line selected from RILs of the same cross, 15 F_2:3 lines that differed only in a 2.15-Mb segment extending from RM587 to RM6119 on the short arm of chromosome 6 were derived. In these lines, qHUS-6 displayed a major effect, so did QTLs for yield traits previously detected in the same region. Two more QTLs for HUS detected in 2003, qHUS-1-1 and qHUS-1-2, also had consistent effects in the Zhenshan 97B/Milyang 46 RIL population in 2004. Thus this study verified three candidate regions for fine mapping HUS QTLs and determining the genetic relationship between silicon content and yield traits in rice.     

Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci conditioning salt tolerance in wild soybean (Glycine soja) PI 483463

Salt tolerance in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is controlled by major quantitative trait loci (QTL) or single gene(s). Among soybean germplasm, wild soybean plant introduction PI 483463 was reported to have a single dominant gene for salt tolerance. The objective of this study was to genetically map the QTL in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between PI 483463 and Hutcheson. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and universal soybean single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel (the USLP 1.0) were utilized for molecular genotyping. The RILs were phenotyped in two independent tests in a greenhouse using a 1–5 scale visual rating method. The results showed that the salt tolerant QTL in PI 483463 was mapped to chromosome 3 in a genomic region between the Satt255 and BARC-038333-10036 markers. The favorable allele inherited from PI 483463 conferred tolerance to salinity and had an additive effect on reducing leaf scorch. A subset of 66 iso-lines was developed from the F₃ families of the same cross and was used for genetic confirmation of the QTL. The integration of recombination events and the salt reaction data indicate that the QTL is located in the region of approximately a 658 kb segment between SSR03_1335 at nucleotide 40,505,992 and SSR03_1359 at nucleotide 41,164,735 on chromosome 3. This narrow region can facilitate further genomic research for salt tolerance in soybean including cloning salt tolerance genes.     

Two genes and linked RAPD markers involved in resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Ciceris race 0 in chickpea

The inheritance of resistance to fusarium wilt race 0 of chickpea and linked random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were studied in two F₆:₇ recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. These RILs were developed from the crosses CA2156 × JG62 (susceptible × resistant) and CA2139 × JG62 (resistant × resistant), and were sown in a field infected with fusarium wilt race 0 in Beja (Tunisia) over 2 years. A1:1 resistant to susceptible ratio was found in the RIL population from the CA2156 × JG62 cross, indicating that a single gene with two alleles controlled resistance. In the second RIL population (CA2139 × JG62) a 3:1 resistant to susceptible ratio indicated that two genes were present and that either gene was sufficient to confer resistance. Linkage analysis showed a RAPD marker, OPJ20600, linked to resistance in both RIL populations, which is present in the resistant parent JG62.     

Genetic analysis of plant height using two immortalized populations of “CRI12 × J8891” in Gossypium hirsutum L.

Plant height is an important plant architecture trait that determines the canopy structure, photosynthetic capacity and lodging resistance of upland cotton populations. To understand the genetic basis of plant height for marker-assisted breeding, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was conducted based on the genetic map of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross “CRI12 × J8891” (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Three methods, including composite interval mapping, multiple interval mapping and multi-marker joint analysis, were used to detect QTL across multiple environments in the RILs and in the immortalized F₂ population developed through intermating between RILs. A total of 19 QTL with genetic main effects and/or genetic × environment interaction effects were identified on 15 chromosomes or linkage groups, each explaining 5.8–14.3 % of the phenotypic variation. Five digenic epistatic QTL pairs, mainly involving additive × additive and/or dominance × dominance, were detected in different environments. Seven out of eight interacting loci were main-effect QTL, suggesting that these loci act as major genes as well as modifying genes in the expression of plant height. The results demonstrate that additive effects, dominance and epistasis are all important for the genetic constitution of plant height, with additive effects playing a more important role in reducing plant height. QTL showing stability across environments that were repeatedly detected by different methods can be used in marker-assisted breeding.     

水稻第1染色体长臂上微效千粒重QTL qTGW1.2的验证与分解

本文报道了水稻第1染色体长臂上微效千粒重QTL qTGW1.2的验证和分解。针对前期qTGW1.2定位结果, 应用SSR标记检测, 从籼籼交组合珍汕97³/密阳46衍生的1个BC₂F_{7分离群体中, 筛选到杂合区间分别为RM11621-RM297和RM212-RM265的2个单株, 构建了两套BC2F8:9近等基因系, 将qTGW1.2进一步界定在RM212-RM265及其两侧交换区间的区域内。}在此基础上, 筛选出5个在目标区间内分离片段缩小且呈阶梯状排列的单株, 衍生了5套BC₂F₁₀分离群体, 应用Windows QTL Cartographer 2.5进行QTL分析。结果表明, 每套群体均检测到千粒重QTL, 加性效应为0.13~0.38 g, 来自密阳46的等位基因提高千粒重; 经比较各个群体的分离区间, 将qTGW1.2分解为互引连锁的2个QTL, 其中, qTGW1.2a位于RM11730和RM11762之间934 kb的区域内, 呈加性作用, qTGW1.2b位于RM11800和RM11885之间2.1 Mb的区域内, 呈正向超显性。     

Comparison of QTLs mapped in RILs and their test-cross progenies of tropical maize for insect resistance and agronomic traits

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting resistance to south-western corn borer Diatraea grandiosella (SWCB) and sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (SCB) have been identified previously in F_2:3 lines and recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of tropical maize using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. Our objective was to determine whether QTLs identified in these generations are also expressed in test crosses (TC) of RILs. A population of 166 TC progenies was developed by crossing RILs from the cross CML131 (susceptible) × CML67 (resistant) with the unrelated, susceptible tester line CML216. Resistance to first-generation SWCB, measured as leaf-feeding damage (LFD) under artificial infestation, and other agronomic traits were evaluated in two environments for the TC progenies and three environments for 183 RILs. The correlation between line per se and TC performance was low for LFD and intermediate for most agronomic traits. Estimates of the genotypic variance and heritabilities were smaller in the TC progenies than in the RILs for all traits. Quantitative trait loci were identified using an RFLP linkage map with 136 loci. For LFD, four QTLs were detected in the TC progenies, of which two were in common with nine QTLs previously mapped in the RILs. Few QTLs for agronomic traits were common to the two types of progeny, because of the low consistency of QTL positions for all traits in RIL and TC progenies, the use of TC progenies should be considered in QTL mapping studies as the first step for marker-assisted selection in hybrid breeding.     

QTL mapping of fiber quality in an elite hybrid derived-RIL population of upland cotton

Xiangzamian 2 (XZM2) was the most widely cultivated cotton hybrid planted as F₁ hybrids and as selfed F₂ seeds in China before the release of transgenic Bt hybrids. By crossing two parents of XZM2, Gossypium hirsutum cv. Zhongmiansuo12 (ZMS12) and G. hirsutum acc. 8891, and through subsequent selfings, we obtained F₈ and F₉ populations of 180 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). A RIL population was cultivated in two cotton-growing regions in China for 2 years. The purpose of the present research was to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fiber quality and provide information applicable to cotton breeding. A genetic map was constructed mainly using SSR markers. QTL controlling fiber quality traits were determined at the single-locus and two-locus levels, and genotype-by-environment interactions were analyzed. Among the main-effect QTL, a fiber length QTL qFL-D2-1 and a reflectance QTL qFR-D2-1 were simultaneously detected at two growing regions in 2 years, which suggested a high degree of stability in different environments, and might be of particular value for a marker-assisted selection (MAS) program. The results suggested that epistatic effects, as well as additive effects, of QTL play important roles in fiber quality in these RILs. In our research, the phenomenon of QTL clusters was detected in the cotton genome.     

Population-specific QTLs and their different epistatic interactions for pod dehiscence in soybean [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> (L.) Merr.]

Pod dehiscence (PD) prior to harvest results in serious yield loss in soybean. Two linkage maps with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were independently constructed using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from Keunolkong (pod-dehiscent) × Sinpaldalkong (pod-indehiscent) and Keunolkong × Iksan 10 (pod-indehiscent). These soybean RIL populations were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conditioning resistance to PD. While a single major QTL on linkage group (LG) J explained 46% of phenotypic variation in PD in the Keunolkong × Sinpaldalkong population with four minor QTLs, three minor QTLs were identified in the Keunolkong × Iksan 10 population. Although these two populations share the pod dehiscent parent, no common QTL has been identified. In addition, epistatic interactions among three marker loci partially explained phenotypic variation in PD in both populations. The result of this study indicates that different breeding strategies will be required for PD depending on genetic background.     

Using three selected overlapping RILs to fine-map the yield component QTL on Chro.D8 in Upland cotton

Cotton yield improvement is vital to fulfill rising global demands. The identification of major quantitative trait loci (QTL) for yield components was helpful in molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) to improve cotton yield. We previously identified a densely populated QTL region for fiber qualities and yield components on chromosome D8 (Chro.D8) of Upland cotton from a (7235 × TM-1)RIL. In the present study, to fine-map yield component QTLs, we chose three overlapped recombinant inbred lines (RILs) with different intervals included the yield component QTLs, and backcrossed each line with TM-1 to develop three large sized mapping populations. Phenotypic data for yield components were collected in Nanjing (JES/NAU) and Xinjiang (BES/XJ) in 2006 and 2007. Three simple sequence repeat (SSR) genetic linkage maps on chro.D8 were constructed using 907 individuals in (7TR-133 × TM-1)F₂ (Pop A), 670 in (7TR-132 × TM-1)F₂ (Pop B), and 940 in (7TR-214 × TM-1)F₂ (Pop C). Three stable QTLs for boll size, two for lint percentage and one for boll number per plant,were detected on chro.D8 following analysis of three RIL backcrossed F₂/F_2:3 progeny at JES/NAU and BES/XJ although their cultivation practices differ greatly between these two cotton-growing regions. One QTL for boll number per plant exhibited a phenotypic variance (PV) of 5.6–10.1%, three QTLs for boll size exhibited 15.0–35.5% PV and two lint percentage QTLs exhibited 10.9–19.3% PV. Negative correlation between lint yield and fiber strength was confirmed.     

Mapping of QTL associated with waterlogging tolerance and drought resistance during the seedling stage in oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Soil waterlogging and drought are major environmental stresses that suppress rapeseed (Brassica napus) growth and yield. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with waterlogging tolerance and drought resistance at the rapeseed seedling stage, we generated a doubled haploid (DH) population consisting of 150 DH lines from a cross between two B. napus lines, namely, line No2127-17 × 275B F₄ (waterlogging-tolerant and drought-resistant) and line Huyou15 × 5900 F₄ (waterlogging-sensitive and drought-sensitive). A genetic linkage map was constructed using 183 simple sequence repeat and 157 amplified fragment length polymorphism markers for the DH population. Phenotypic data were collected under waterlogging, drought and control conditions, respectively, in two experiments. Five traits (plant height, root length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and total dry weight) were investigated. QTL associated with the five traits, waterlogging tolerance coefficient (WTC) and drought resistance coefficient (DRC) of all the traits were identified via composite interval mapping, respectively. A total of 28 QTL were resolved for the five traits under control conditions, 26 QTL for the traits under waterlogging stresses and 31 QTL for the traits under drought conditions. Eleven QTL were detected by the WTC, and 19 QTL related to DRC were identified. The results suggest that the genetic bases of both waterlogging tolerance and drought resistance are complex. Some of the QTL for waterlogging tolerance-related traits overlapped with QTL for drought resistance-related traits, indicating that the genetic bases of waterlogging tolerance and drought resistance in the DH population were related in some degree.     

QTLs for chlorophyll and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in barley under post-flowering drought

Drought is one of the major factors limiting barley yields in many developing countries worldwide. The identification of molecular markers linked to genes controlling drought tolerance in barley is one way to improve breeding efficiency. In this study, we analyzed the quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence in 194 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from the cross between the cultivar ‘Arta’ and Hordeum spontaneum 41-1. Five traits, chlorophyll content, and four chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, namely initial fluorescence (F_o), maximum fluorescence (F_m), variable fluorescence (F_v), and maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m) which are related to the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus, were measured under well-watered and drought stress conditions at post-flowering stage. QTL analysis identified a total of nine and five genomic regions, under well-watered and drought stress conditions, respectively, that were significantly associated with the expression of the five target traits at post-flowering stage. No common QTL was detected except one for chlorophyll content, which was identified in both growth conditions, demonstrating that the genetic control of the expression of the traits related to photosynthesis differed under different water conditions. A QTL for F_v/F_m, which is related to the drought tolerance of photosynthesis was identified on chromosome 2H at 116 cM in the linkage map under drought stress. This QTL alone explained more than 15% of phenotypic variance of maximum quantum yield of PSII, and was also associated with the expression of four other traits. In addition, another QTL for F_v/F_m was also located on the same chromosome (2H) but at 135.7 cM explaining around 9% of the phenotypic variance under drought conditions. The result presented here suggest that two major loci, located on chromosome 2H, are involved in the development of functional chloroplast at post-flowering stage for drought tolerance of photosynthesis in barley under drought stress. If validated in other populations, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters could be used as selection criteria for drought tolerance.     

Detection and verification of QTLs associated with heat-induced quality decline of rice (Oryza sativa L.) using recombinant inbred lines and near-isogenic lines

Decline in the apparent quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain due to high temperatures during ripening recently became a major concern in many areas in Japan. The occurrence of white-back kernels (WBK) is one of the main problems of heat-induced quality decline. We identified QTLs associated with the occurrence of WBK using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) and verified their effects using near-isogenic lines (NILs). The QTL analysis used F₇ and F₈ RILs derived from ‘Hana-echizen’ (HE), which is tolerant to high temperature, × ‘Niigata-wase’ (NW), which is sensitive to high temperature. Four QTLs were identified on chromosomes 3, 4, 6, and 9 (qWB3, qWB4, qWB6 and qWB9). To verify the effects of qWB6 and qWB9, we developed two NILs in which qWB6 or both were introduced from HE into the NW background. The HE allele at qWB6 significantly decreased WBK under multiple environments. The combination of qWB6 and qWB9 in an F₂ population derived from a cross between a NIL and NW showed that the NW allele at qWB9 significantly decreased WBK if the qWB6 allele was HE. These results will be of value in marker-assisted selection for the breeding of rice with tolerance to heat-induced quality decline.     

Potential for effective marker-assisted selection of three quantitative trait loci conferring adult plant resistance to powdery mildew in elite wheat breeding populations

Three quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with adult plant resistance (APR) to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis) in wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar ‘Massey’ were mapped in a previous study. The three QTL were located on chromosomes 2A, 2B and 1B, and explained 50% of the total phenotypic variation. A 293 recombinant inbred line (RIL) breeding population (UJ) derived from the cross of ‘USG 3209’, a derivative of ‘Massey’, and ‘Jaypee’ was used to evaluate the potential effectiveness of marker‐assisted selection (MAS) for APR. Powdery mildew severities of the 293 UJ RILs were evaluated in 2002 (F_{5 : 6}) and 2003 (F_{6 : 7}) under natural disease pressure in the field. The 293 RILs were also evaluated for disease severity in a 2004 (F_{7 : 8}) greenhouse experiment using a composite of five different isolates of B. graminis. Selection of RILs possessing the QTL on chromosome 2A, and to a lesser extent, the one on chromosome 1B was effective in identifying powdery mildew resistance in both greenhouse and field experiments. Overall, selecting RILs with QTL on chromosomes 2A and 2B was most successful in identifying highly resistant RILs, which had mean mildew severities of 4.4% and 3.2% in 2002 and 2003 field experiments, respectively. Breeders implementing MAS programs for APR to powdery mildew via selection of RILs containing the two QTL on chromosomes 2A and 2B likely will obtain RILs having high levels of resistance in the field, however combining all three QTL may ensure greater durability.     

QTL detection for grain oil and starch content and their associations in two connected F<Subscript>2:3</Subscript> populations in high-oil maize

High-oil maize (Zea mays L.) has special value in animal feed and human food. Two hundred and eight-four and 265 F_2:3 families developed from two crosses between one high-oil maize inbred and two normal dent maize inbreds were evaluated for grain oil and starch contents under two environments. Using composite interval mapping, 1–6 QTL for each trait were detected under each environment and in combined analysis in both populations. Only one common QTL across two environments in each population and across two populations were found for starch content. Among the detected QTL, nine digenic interactions with small effects were identified. Comparison of single-trait QTL and the results of multiple-trait QTL mapping showed that oil content might be complicatedly correlated with starch content. Although single-trait QTL with the same parental effects for both traits and oil-starch QTL were all detected at the same genetic bin 6.04 as the cloned high-oil QTL (qHO6) with no unfavorable effects on grain weight, our results did reflect the difficulty to realize simultaneous improvement on grain oil and starch contents. Of course, these results should be validated in further experiments under more environments using RILs, NILs and other permanent populations.     

Confirmation of quantitative trait loci for resistance to multiple-HG types of soybean cyst nematode (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterodera glycines</Emphasis> Ichinohe)

Genetic analysis of resistance of plant introduction (PI) 438489B to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) have shown that this PI is highly resistant to many SCN HG types. However, validation of the previously detected quantitative trait loci (QTL) has not been done. In this study, 250 F_2:3 progeny of a Magellan (susceptible) × PI 438489B (resistant) cross were used for primary genetic mapping to detect putative QTL for resistance to five SCN HG types. QTL confirmation study was subsequently conducted using F_6:7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the same cross. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were employed for molecular genotyping. Interval mapping (IM), permutation tests, cofactor selection, and composite interval mapping (CIM) were performed to identify and map QTL. Results showed that five QTL intervals were associated with resistance to either multiple- or single-HG types of SCN. Among these, two major QTL for resistance to multiple-SCN HG types were mapped to chromosomes (Chr.) 8 and 18, consistent with the known rhg1 and Rhg4 locations. The other QTL were mapped to Chr. 4. The results of our study confirmed earlier reported SCN resistance QTL in this PI. Moreover, SSR and SNP molecular markers tightly linked to these QTL can be useful for the near-isogenic lines (NILs) development aiming to fine-mapping of these QTL regions and map-based cloning of SCN resistance candidate genes.     

Identification of salt tolerance‐improving quantitative trait loci alleles from a salt‐susceptible rice breeding line by introgression breeding

To improve salt tolerance of two elite rice varieties, Ce258 and Zhongguangxiang1 (ZGX1), two sets of introgression lines (ILs) each comprising 200 BC₁F₁₀ lines derived from a common donor, IR75862, and two recipient parents, Ce258 and ZGX1, were used for mapping of QTLs for four salt tolerance‐related traits at the seedling stage. Although the three parents were susceptible to salt, the two IL populations showed transgressive segregations for salt tolerance with 12 and 8 salt tolerance ILs in the Ce258‐ILs and ZGX1‐ILs. Eighteen main‐effect QTLs were identified for the four traits in the two IL populations, and the IR75862 alleles at most loci showed increased and decreased salt tolerance in the ZGX1 and Ce258 backgrounds, suggesting overwhelming genetic background effects on QTL detection for salt tolerance. The qDSS11 simultaneously detected in the two backgrounds was validated in a F₂ population derived from a salt tolerance line and ZGX1. Our results indicated that salt tolerance‐enhancing allele could be identified in the elite susceptible breeding lines and that introgression of the favourable alleles could facilitate the development of superior lines with greater salt tolerance levels.     

QTL作图中零假设检验统计量分布特征及LOD临界值估计方法研究

研究QTL作图的零假设检验统计量分布特征, 可以帮助我们选取合适的LOD临界值, 以控制全基因组第一类错误的概率。本文利用模拟方法, 研究了QTL作图中单个扫描位点的似然比检验(LRT)统计量在零假设下的分布特征、影响最大LOD统计量累积分布的因素以及不同群体在不同标记密度下有效独立检验次数与染色体长度的关系。结果表明, 在定位加显性效应QTL的一维扫描和定位上位性互作QTL的二维扫描中, 单个扫描位置上的LRT统计量均服从卡方分布, 其自由度等于检测QTL遗传参数的个数; 染色体个数、群体大小和表型测量误差对零假设下检验统计量的分布没有影响, 即不影响LOD临界值的选取, 而群体类型、标记密度和染色体长度有明显影响, BC₁、RIL和F₂三种类型的群体中, BC₁群体的临界值最小, F₂群体的临界值最大, 标记越密、染色体越长, 对应的LOD临界值越大; QTL一维扫描中有效独立检验次数与染色体长度呈正比, 二维扫描中有效独立检验次数与染色体长度呈二次幂关系。借助Bonferroni矫正, 给出了全基因组显著性水平与单个扫描位点显著性水平间的关系, 因此, 研究者可根据作图群体的群体类型、标记密度和基因组长度, 很方便地确定特定全局显著性概率水平下的LOD临界值。     

Identifying QTL for fiber quality traits with three upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) populations

Cotton fiber quality was quantitative trait, controlled by multiple genes. Identification of stable quantitative trait loci (QTL) effectively contributing to favorable fiber quality traits would provide the key basis for marker-assisted selection used in molecular breeding projects. Three upland cotton F₂ populations were established with a common parent Chinese cultivar Yumian 1 and three American commercial cultivars/lines (Acala Maxxa, CA3084 and TAM94L-25), each of which had unique fiber quality characteristic that was favorable economically. Three whole genome genetic maps were constructed with 323, 302 and 262 SSR loci for population (Yumian 1 × Acala Maxxa), (Yumian 1 × CA3084), and (Yumian 1 × TAM 94L-25) respectively, spanning 1,617.2, 1,639.9 and 1,441.4 cM. Based on these genetic maps and three generation phenotypic data of fiber quality traits (F₂, F_2:3 and F_2:4), 77 QTL were detected, including 19 for fiber length, 14 for fiber uniformity, 17 for micronaire, 10 for fiber elongation, and 17 for fiber strength. Among these QTL, 46 QTL were significant QTL and 31 were putative QTL, including that one QTL (qFL05.1) and four QTL (qFL23.1, qFM06.1, qFM06.2 and qFE25.1) were detected across three and two populations respectively; two QTL qFL10.1 (Yumian 1 × TAM 94L-25) and qFL15.1 (Yumian 1 × Acala Maxxa) were detected in three generations; qFM23.1, qFE18.1 and qFS21.2 detected in population (Yumian 1 × CA3084), qFE10.1, and qFS10.2 detected in population (Yumian 1 × TAM 94L-25), and qFS15.1 detected in population (Yumian 1 × Acala Maxxa), were all detected in two generations. Alleles underlying these stable QTL were valuable candidate gene for fine mapping, cloning, and favorable gene pyramiding projects. Our study also verified that QTL mapping of fiber quality traits using multiple populations with a common parent had higher efficiency compared to single population crossed with two parents and favorable alleles contributed to QTL effect could be conferred by parents with inferior fiber quality traits.     

Genetic analysis and map-based delimitation of a major locus qSS3 for seed size in soybean

Seed size is a major determinant of grain yield in soybean, however their genetic basis remains largely unknown. In order to delimit map-based position of a major locus qSS3 , we evaluated three mapping populations, including RILs, NILs and a sub-F₂ in three environments for six seed size-related traits. For these traits, the kurtosis and skewness ranged between 0.0 and 1.16, while h²_b ranged from 0.75 to 0.96, indicating that this RIL population is suitable for QTL analysis. QTL analysis identified 12 loci which consist of 30 significant QTLs with PVE% and LOD values of 6.6%–26.2% and 2.50–5.61, respectively. Among them, qSS3 was a major and stable locus explaining 7.3%–26.2% of the variation in 5 of the 6 traits, with the respective LOD values falling in the range of 2.72–5.61. Additionally, qSS3 effects were confirmed in NILs and delimited to an interval of ~1,126 kb containing 123 annotated genes. Overall, this study may assist efforts aiming to improve soybean seed traits by identifying valuable genetic resources which can be used in future MAS breeding programmes.     

Heritability and predicted gain from selection in components of crop duration in divergent chickpea cross populations

Genetic analysis of ten quantitative traits related to crop duration in chickpea was carried out using three F ₂ sib-populations; 272-2 × CDC Anna, 298T-9 × CDC Anna and 298T-9 × CDC Frontier. F ₃ and F ₄ families from these populations were further evaluated for traits found important in the initial study. Also, 112 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of chickpea cross ICCV 2 × JG 62 were evaluated for days to flowering, days to maturity and reproductive period. An analysis of the F ₂ population data using the mixed model approach revealed that the additive component of variance was significant for days to flowering, days to first podding and days to first pod maturity, while dominance genetic variance was significant for morphological components of crop duration such as height to first pod and height at flowering. Comparatively high heritability estimates (39–48%) were obtained for days to flowering, days to first pod maturity, percent pod maturity at four months after planting and days to maturity based on offspring-parent (F ₄ and F ₃ generations) regression and/or analysis of variance for the RIL population. The predicted gain from selection as a percentage of the population mean was low (5% or less) for these key components of crop duration owing to the low variability detected within the populations, the exception being percent pod maturity. To maximize gain from selection in these traits, it is therefore, essential to increase genetic variability among the progenies, potentially through multi-parent crosses that may involve gene introgression from across desi and kabuli types of chickpea and from wild progenitors.