Genome-wide association mapping of genetic factors controlling Septoria tritici blotch resistance and their associations with plant height and heading date in wheat

Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the ascomycete fungus Zymoseptoria tritici (also known as Mycosphaerella graminicola), is one of the most devastating foliar wheat diseases worldwide. Host resistance is the most effective strategy for management of the disease. A factor that complicates the determination of resistance is its reported interaction with heading date (Hd) and plant height (Ph). In this study, we report findings from a genome-wide association study of resistance to STB in a world-wide collection of 96 wheat accessions. The collection was evaluated under conditions of artificial infection for seedling and adult plant STB resistance, Hd and Ph in field trials. Marker-trait associations (MTAs) were detected using a mixed linear model. STB disease severities showed significant phenotypic variation. In total, 73 MTAs involving STB resistance were detected. The chromosomal locations of some of them were similar to known Stb genes or quantitative trait loci; whereas others were detected in new genomic regions. The field experiment showed evidence of genetic association between STB resistance and Hd, but only for a few genotypes. This was corroborated at the molecular level, where a total of eight genomic regions associated with STB resistance were located in similar positions to MTAs for Hd. New genomic regions associated with STB resistance found here could be useful in wheat breeding aimed at controlling STB after validation in relevant genetic backgrounds     

Tagging quantitative trait loci for heading date and plant height in important breeding parents of rice (Oryza sativa)

Heading date and plant height are important determinants for plant growth rate. In this study, simple sequence repeat markers were used to tag quantitative trait loci (QTL) using a recombinant inbred line mapping population derived from two important breeding parents, genetic stock Kaybonnetlpa1-1 and indica cultivar Zhe733, using data collected under field and greenhouse conditions. Interval mapping, composite interval mapping, and multiple interval mapping were performed to map QTL for heading date and plant height, and to identify epistatic interactions between the QTL. qHD3.1 on chromosome 3 from KBNTlpa1-1 had the largest effect on heading date contributing an average of 28.4 % of the total phenotypic variation. qHD7.1, 7.2, and 8.1 also had a significant contribution to heading date from Zhe733 averaging 8.1, 12.8, and 12.8 % of the phenotypic variance, respectively, and there was a positive additive-by-additive epistatic interaction between qHD7.1 and qHD8.1. QTL, qPHT1.1 and qPHT3.1, for plant height were detected on chromosomes 1 and 3, respectively. qPHT1.1 contributed the largest effect representing 38.2 % of the total phenotypic variation. Comparison of the QTL identified in our study with previous results revealed that the chromosomal locations for QTL coincided closely with positions reported previously in other rice populations worldwide, suggesting that these QTL have coevolved and become domesticated. The tightly linked SSR markers that flank these QTL should be desirable for tagging heading date and plant height genes and facilitating their incorporation into advanced breeding lines using marker assisted selection.     

Molecular mapping of QTL for southwestern corn borer resistance, plant height and flowering in tropical maize

Development of multiple insect resistance in tropical maize represents a major effort of the maize breeding programme at CIMMYT. Resistance to the southwestern corn borer (SWCB) is polygenically controlled with primarily additive gene action. Our main objective was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) involved in resistance to SWCB. Other objectives were to detect QTL in the same population for plant height, female flowering, and the anthesis-silking interval (ASI). A population of 472 F₂ individuals derived from a cross between the susceptible line Ki3 and the resistant inbred CML139, was restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genotyped using 110 maize probes. F₃ families were rated for leaf-feeding damage after artificial infestation at one location in three consecutive years. Height and flowering were measured in protected trials in two locations. QTL analyses were conducted using joint composite interval mapping. Seven QTL on chromosomes 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 explained 30% of the phenotypic variance (σ²_p) for SWCB damage. Most QTL alleles conferring resistance were contributed from CML139. QTL showed dominance, partial dominance and additive gene action. Eleven QTL dispersed across the genome were determined to affect plant height and explained 43% of σ²_p. Four of these were in close proximity to loci with qualitative effects on plant height. Thirteen QTL (50% of sigma;²_p) were identified for days to female flowering and nine (30% of σ²_p) for ASI. Our results, along with those from other mapping studies at CIMMYT, are allowing us to formulate marker-assisted selection schemes to complement the breeding efforts for such complex traits as borer resistance.     

Genome-wide association mapping and genomic prediction of Fusarium head blight resistance,heading stage and plant height in winter rye (Secale cereale)

Rye is a multi-purpose cereal crop grown in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Western Canada. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the diseases that have a severe negative impact on rye, but knowledge about FHB resistance at the genomic level is totally missing in rye. The objective of this study was to elucidate the genetic architecture of FHB resistance in winter rye using genome-wide association (GWA) mapping complemented by genomic prediction (GP) in comparison with marker-assisted selection (MAS). Additionally, plant height and heading stage were analysed. A panel of 465 S₁-inbred lines of winter rye was phenotyped in three environments (location–year combinations) for FHB resistance by inoculation with Fusarium culmorum and genotyped with a 15k SNP array. Significant genotypic variation and high heritabilities were found for FHB resistance, heading stage and plant height. FHB did not correlate with heading stage, but was moderately correlated with plant height (r = −.52, p < .001) caused by some susceptible short inbred lines. The GWA scan identified 15 QTL for FHB resistance that jointly explained 74% of the genotypic variance. In addition, we detected 11 QTL for heading stage and 8 QTL for plant height, explaining 26% and 14% of the genotypic variance, respectively. A genome-wide prediction approach resulted in 44% higher prediction abilities than marker-assisted selection for FHB resistance. In conclusion, genomic approaches appear promising to improve and accelerate breeding for complex traits in winter rye.     

Effects of environment, disease progress, plant height and heading date on the detection of QTLs for resistance to Fusarium head blight in an European winter wheat cross

In order to characterise quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for Type I and Type II resistance against Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, a population of recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross Cansas (moderately resistant)/Ritmo (susceptible) was evaluated in spray-inoculated field trials over three seasons. Map-based QTL analysis across environments revealed seven QTLs on chromosomes 1BS, 1DS, 3B, 3DL, 5BL, 7BS and 7AL (QFhs.whs-1B, QFhs.whs-1D, QFhs.whs-3B, QFhs.whs-3D, QFhs.whs-5B, QFhs.whs-7A, QFhs.whs-7B) associated with FHB resistance. They accounted for 56% of the phenotypic variance. QFhs.whs-1D primarily appeared to be involved in resistance to fungal penetration, whereas the other QTLs mainly contributed to resistance to fungal spread. FHB resistance was significantly correlated with plant height (PH) and heading date (HD). Including all single environments, corresponding overlaps of QTLs for FHB resistance and QTLs for PH/HD occurred at six loci, among them two consistently detected QTLs, QFhs.whs-5B and QFhs.whs-7A. When significant effects of PH and HD on FHB resistance were eliminated by covariance analysis, a second QTL analysis revealed possible escape mechanisms for the majority of the coincidental loci.     

Dynamic QTL mapping for plant height in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Plant height served as one of model traits to analyse dynamic development. The objective of this research was to investigate quantitative trait loci (QTL) and dynamic QTL for plant height trait using an intraspecific recombinant inbred line (RIL) population and a constructed genetic map in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Totally, 41 QTL and 23 conditional QTL controlling plant height were detected at two experimental environments, respectively. Four stable QTL were identified simultaneously in both environments. Some QTL identified at the early stage could not be detected at the final stage at plant maturity. Conditional QTL with different genetic effects were identified at certain stages, demonstrating that the expression of QTL had temporal characteristic during plant growth. Therefore, the study of dynamic QTL could unravel temporal genetic patterns controlling complex developmental quantitative traits.     

Segregation for heading date and stem enlargement in kohlrabi x broccoli crosses

Summary F₁ and F₂ progenies from crosses of an early broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.) line with kohlrabi (B. oleracea var. gongyloides) indicated that days to flower bud maturity in annual segregates is quantitative and additive in inheritance. It appeared that the biennial kohlrabi parent strongly contributed genetic factors for late maturity. F₁ plants of both crosses, 98% of F₂ plants from early broccoli × kohlrabi, and 81% of the F₂ plants from late broccoli × kohlrabi were annual in 1980. In 1986, 96% of early broccoli × kohlrabi F₂ and 87% of late broccoli × kohlrabi F₂ plants were annual. Kohlrabi stem enlargement showed a continuous range of expression in the F₂ with some dominance of broccoli type. Few F₂ plants were close to the kohlrabi parent in degree of stem enlargement.     

Comparative genetic mapping of loci affecting plant height and development in cereals

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) mapping data for genes determining dwarfness (GA insensitive and GA sensitive), vernalisation response and photoperiodic response in wheat, rye and barley were compared and their homoeologous relationships discussed. The GA insensitive Rht genes of wheat are not related to the GA insensitive dwarfing genes of rye or barley; however, homoeology is present for two members of the GA sensitive dwarfing genes of wheat (Rht12) and rye (Ddw1), located on the translocated segments of the long arms of chromosomes 5A and 5R, respectively. The comparative mapping of the Triticeae group 5 vernalisation response genes of wheat, rye and barley, and the group 2 photoperiodic response genes of wheat and barley, show that both gene families are located in homoeologous regions of the particular chromosomes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dynamic QTL mapping for plant height in the hybrid population of Agropyron Gaertn.

Plant height (PH) plays a very important role for plant breeding and also serves as a model trait to dynamic development study. The dynamic quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for PH of Agropyron Gaertn. was carried out in a cross-pollination (CP) hybrid population of A. Gaertn. based on the phenotypic data of PH at different developmental stages in four year-sites and the constructed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic map. The results showed that 69 QTL and nine major QTL were detected by unconditional QTL mapping. A total of 107 QTL and 13 major QTL were found using conditional QTL mapping. Forty-seven QTL were detected by two methods. Two unconditional QTL, Qph2-5 and Qph3-4, were expressed as major and stable QTL for PH. Four major stable conditional QTL for PH, cQph4-1, cQph4-8, cQph6-2 and cQph6-7, were detected. Two conditional PH QTL, cQph3-5 and cQPh3-7, were identified in four environments over multiple stages. The gene/QTL controlling PH was expressed in a certain spatiotemporal manner. These results could also provide a reference for genetic and breeding research of related plant.     

Soybean plant height QTL mapping and meta‐analysis for mining candidate genes

Plant height is closely related to seed yield of soybean. The goal of this study was to identify important loci affecting soybean plant height using meta‐analysis based on a reference physical map. Plant height related to QTLs was mapped across eight years with a RIL population by WinQTLCart v2.5. 182 QTLs related to plant height of soybean from database and our research were collected, and each QTL was projected onto the soybean physical map by software BioMercator v2.1. The confidence interval of meta‐QTL ranged from 0.09 to 5.07 Mb, and the mean phenotypic variance ranged from 4.9% to 73.0%. Furthermore, 4,259 candidate genes were located in these consensus QTLs, and 40 of them were involved in the plant growth and stem elongation and annotated as plant hormone signal transduction (pathway ID ko04075) in KEGG pathway. These results would lay a foundation for fine mapping of QTLs/genes related to plant height and marker‐assisted selection for breeding in soybean.     

Molecular mapping and identification of QTL's associated to oat crown rust partial resistance

Summary Molecular mapping is a promising strategy for studying and understanding traits with complex genetic control, such as partial resistance to oat crown rust. The objectives of this research were to develop molecular maps from the progenies of the cross UFRGS7 (susceptible) × UFRGS910906 (partially resistant) and to identify QTLs (quantitative trait loci) associated to partial resistance to oat crown rust in two generations of that population.DNA of 86 genotypes of the F₂ and 90 genotypes of the F₆ UFRGS7 × UFRGS910906 population were used to generate AFLP markers. Molecular maps were constructed using Mapmaker Exp. 3.0 and QTLs for partial resistance to oat crown rust were identified with Mapmaker/QTL software. Five hundred and fifty seven markers in the F₂ and 243 markers in the F₆ generations were identified. The F₂ map integrated 250 markers in 37 linkage groups. The F₆ map integrated 86 markers in 17 linkage groups.Five QTLs were identified for partial resistance to oat crown rust in the F₂ generation and three QTLs in the F₆. The QTL identified on F₆ through the PaaaMctt340 AFLP marker showed consistency across two environments and two generations (F₄ and F₆), and appear to have potential for marker-assisted selection in oat.     

Date of heading and plant height of wheat varieties,as related to septoria leaf blotch damage

Summary Septoria leaf blotch readings, date of heading and plant height appeared strongly correlated in six variety trials with 25 varieties each. Three trials were conducted in 1972 and three in 1976. The taller and later the cultivars, the lower its Septoria leaf blotch score tended to be. The yields also were less strongly reduced in taller and later cultivars, as calculated from another experiment.     

Yield QTL affected by heading date in Mediterranean grown barley

Knowledge regarding quantitative trait loci (QTL) has led to remarkable advances in breeding for a variety of traits, some of which have an effect on yield under particular environmental conditions. However, the same yield QTL are not usually found, even in the same population tested in different environments, as a result of large genotype-by-environment interactions. In this study, we aimed at identifying yield QTL in a series of experiments carried out in Spain. We used a barley doubled haploid population derived from a spring by winter cross. The relationship between heading date and yield, and between the principal heading date QTL and yield, changed depending on the environment. Allelic combinations causing early or late heading dates usually did not favour high yield, whereas intermediate heading dates were associated with not only higher variability but also higher yield potential. To identify QTL for grain yield independent of heading date, the population was divided into three classes: Early , Intermediate and Late . We found three new QTL affecting yield only at specific maturity groups. The implications of these findings in relation to barley breeding are discussed.     

Construction of high‐throughput genotyped chromosome segment substitution lines in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and QTL mapping for heading date

Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) provide ideal materials for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping and genetic dissection of complex traits. In this study, we developed a set of CSSL population consisting of 175 lines, which were derived between the recipient ‘Guangluai 4’ and the donor ‘Nipponbare’. Based on 260 molecular markers, we firstly constructed a physical map of core 97 lines. Then, these 97 lines were further genotyped based on resequencing data, and a resequencing‐based physical map was constructed. Compared with the molecular marker‐based physical map, the resequencing‐based physical map of 97 lines contained 367 substituted segments with 252 newly discovered segments. The total size of the 367 substituted segments was 1,074 Mb, which was 2.81 times the size of rice genome. Using the 97 CSSLs as materials, we identified nine QTLs for heading date and three of them were firstly reported. All the QTLs had positive additive effects, ranging from 9.50 to 16.50 days. These CSSLs may greatly help forge a new resource for functional genomics studies and molecular breeding in rice.     

基于QTL定位和全基因组关联分析筛选甘蓝型油菜株高和一次有效分枝高度的候选基因

株高和一次有效分枝高度是与甘蓝型油菜结荚层厚度、收获指数紧密关联的重要农艺性状,有关株高的数量性状位点(quantitativetraitlocus,QTL)和全基因组关联分析(genome-wideassociationstudy,GWAS)已有很多报道,但对一次有效分枝高度的QTL和GWAS定位以及候选基因筛选的研究报道较少。本研究利用已构建的高密度遗传连锁图对2016和2017年2个环境的186个株系组成的重组自交系群体株高和一次有效分枝高度及其最佳线性无偏预测(bestlinearunbiasedprediction,BLUP)值进行QTL定位共检测到8个株高的QTL,分别位于A03、A04和A09染色体,单个QTL解释4.60%～13.29%的表型变异,其中位于A04染色体上的QTL(q-2017PH-A04-2和q-BLUP-PH-A04-2)在2017年和BLUP中均被检测到;检测到9个一次有效分枝高度QTL,分别位于A01、A02、A05、A09、C01和C05染色体上,单个QTL解释5.12%～19.10%的表型变异,其中q-2017BH-A09-1、q-BLUP-B...     

Genetic effects of Vrn genes on heading date and agronomic traits in bread wheat

Summary The Vrn1, Vrn2 and Vrn3 genes have different values of effects on heading date and related yield components. The genetic background and environment do not affect the ranking of Vrn genotypes according to earliness within near-isogenic line sets; however, they do influence the level of differences between heading dates of particular genotypes and between effect values, respectively. The frequencies of defined Vrn genotypes in the global set of spring bread wheat cultivars are associated with grain weight per plant predicted on the basis of Vrn gene effects averaged over backgrounds and over environments. Peculiarities of backgrounds and environments alter the grain yield ranges of Vrn genotypes. For early photoperiod-insensitive wheats, planted in stress conditions at grain filling, the highest yield was predicted for double dominant Vrn genotypes with Vrn3. This gene is rarely used by the breeders in middle latitudes and its wider adoption is encouraged.     

Identification of RFLP markers linked with heading date and its heterosis in hexaploid wheat

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between hexaploid wheat (T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (CS) and T. spelta (Sp)) were used for RFLP analysis of heading date and heterosis. Fourteen RFLP markers linking with heading date were identified; two were localized on chromosome 1A, one on 2A, three on 2B, one on 2D, four on 5A, two on 7A and one unlinked but reported to be on group 2. All of these markers may be attributable to genes for earliness per se. However, the markers in the chromosomes of 1A and 7A are new to this study. RILs were crossed with (tim)-CS, the alloplasmic CS with T. timopheevi cytoplasm, and the heterosis from earlier-parent and mid-parents were calculated for the F₁s to examine the heterotic effect toward earliness on heading date. Five and two RFLP markers were associated with heterosis from the earlier-parent and mid-parents, respectively. They were distributed on the chromosomes of homoeologous groups 1 and 2. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An optimal parametric proportional hazards model for mapping heading time loci in rice

Usually, statistical methods for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) require that the phenotypes follow the normal distribution and therefore may not be appropriate to analyze survival traits of skewed distribution. As a result, parametric and semi-parametric models in survival analysis are incorporated into the framework of the interval mapping for survival trait loci. Through formulating the effects of the QTL genotype on the survival time with a Cox proportional hazards model, we construct a general parametric model for mapping survival trait loci, in which baseline hazard function is selectable for goodness of fit to the effects of QTL genotype on survival curve. Bayesian information criterion is used to choose the optimal baseline hazard function with maximum likelihood and parsimonious parameters. Heading time, defined by days from sowing to heading is a typical survival trait. In this study, we apply the mapping method to locate QTL for heading time in rice and conclude that among the six commonly used survival distributions, Gamma distribution is the optimal baseline hazard function and by which, four QTLs are identified.     

Variation in heading date conceals quantitative trait loci for other traits of importance in breeding selection of rice

To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the primary target traits for selection in practical rice breeding programs, backcross inbred lines (BILs) derived from crosses between temperate japonica rice cultivars Nipponbare and Koshihikari were evaluated for 50 agronomic traits at six experimental fields located throughout Japan. Thirty-three of the 50 traits were significantly correlated with heading date. Using a linkage map including 647 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a total of 122 QTLs for 38 traits were mapped on all rice chromosomes except chromosomes 5 and 9. Fifty-eight of the 122 QTLs were detected near the heading date QTLs Hd16 and Hd17 and the remaining 64 QTLs were found in other chromosome regions. QTL analysis of 51 BILs having homozygous for the Koshihikari chromosome segments around Hd16 and Hd17 allowed us to detect 40 QTLs associated with 27 traits; 23 of these QTLs had not been detected in the original analysis. Among the 97 QTLs for the 30 traits measured in multiple environments, the genotype-by-environment interaction was significant for 44 QTLs and not significant for 53 QTLs. These results led us to propose a new selection strategy to improve agronomic performance in temperate japonica rice cultivars.