Molecular genetics of behaviour: research strategies and perspectives for animal production

Genetic factors are undoubtedly involved in inter-individual variability of the behaviours that may be important for livestock production, as shown by pedigree studies, comparison of genetic stocks raised in the same environment, and selection experiments. The knowledge of gene polymorphisms responsible for genetic variability would increase the efficiency of selection, as shown for instance by the identification of the ryanodine receptor gene that harbours the mutations responsible for the porcine stress syndrome, that allows the eradication of the susceptibility allele. One strategy is to screen systematically the genes that are known to be involved in regulation of behaviour (functional candidate genes). This strategy is however very difficult for most behavioural traits, since behaviour is an emerging function from the whole brain/body and the molecular pathways involved in genetic variability are very poorly understood. Another strategy is to investigate linkage between trait variation and genetic markers in a segregating population (usually an intercross or backcross between two strains or breeds contrasting for the trait under study). It allows the detection of genomic regions influencing that trait (quantitative trait loci or QTL), and further investigation aims at the identification of the gene(s) located in each of these regions and the molecular polymorphisms involved in phenotypic variation. Although many QTL have been published for behavioural traits in experimental animals, very few examples are available where strong candidate genes have been identified. Further progress will be very much dependent upon the careful definition of behavioural traits to be studied (including their importance for animal production), on the reliability of their measurement in a large number of animals and on the efficient mastering of environmental factors of variability. The fast increase in the knowledge of genome sequence in several species will undoubtedly facilitate the application to farm animal species of the knowledge obtained in model organisms, as well as the use of model organisms to explore candidate genes detected by QTL studies in farm animals.     

山东栒子全长转录组测序数据组装及功能注释

山东栒子是中国山东省的特有种,现已处于极度濒危状态。目前,山东栒子的分子生物学研究较少,基因数据库资源极度缺乏,急需探究其生物学遗传信息,以加快对山东栒子的保护遗传学工作。本研究以山东栒子叶片、花、成熟果实为实验材料,利用PacBio Sequel测序平台对其转录组进行全长转录组测序。共得到高质量去冗余的转录本53932个,作为最终转录本序列。预测到的CDS区共52490个;对其SSR位点进行分析,对测序得到Unigenes进行单核苷酸至六核苷酸重复的SSR位点搜索,共搜索到26796个SSR位点。对非冗余转录本利用BLAST软件与NR、Swissprot、GO、COG、KOG、KEGG 6个数据库进行比对,一共成功注释了53319个Unigenes,其中与NR数据库进行比对中注释为苹果的的相关基因数量最多,其次是白梨和桃;在GO数据库中有33305条山东栒子Unigenes被注释分类,由生物学过程、细胞成分和分子功能三部分组成;在与COG数据库比对中,共有23910条比对到了同源序列,且一共被分为25类;在与KEGG数据库的一系列比对中,可将Unigenes映射到126条代谢通路中。本研究在高通量全长转录组水平对山东栒子进行了系统研究,这为进一步开展山东栒子的分子标记开发和挖掘优良基因提供了科学依据,从而推动山东栒子的保护与利用。     

Quantitative trait loci for fruit size and flowering time-related traits under domestication and diversifying selection in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

In cucumber, the genetic basis of traits under domestication and/or diversifying selection is not well understood. Here, we reported QTL mapping for flowering time and fruit size-related traits with segregating populations derived from a cultivated × wild cross. Phenotypic data of flowering time (FT), fruit size (FS), fruit number (FN) and fruit weight per plant (FW) were collected in multiple environments. QTL analysis identified 19 QTL for these traits. We found that the major-effect QTL FT1.1 played an important role in regulating flowering time in cultivated cucumber, whereas the minor-effect QTL FT6.3 contributed to photoperiod sensitive flowering time during domestication. Two novel consensus FS QTL, FS1.4 and FS2.3, seem to be the targets of selection during breeding for the US processing cucumber. All other FS QTL were co-localized with previously detected QTL using populations derived from cultivated cucumbers, suggesting that they were under selection during both initial domestication and subsequent improvement. Results from this study also suggested that the wild cucumber is a useful resource for capturing positive transgressive segregation and novel alleles that could be explored in cucumber breeding.     

Development and evaluation of pyramiding lines carrying early or late heading QTLs in the indica rice cultivar ‘IR64’

The heading date is an important trait for determining regional and climatic adaptability in rice. To expand the adaptability of the indica rice cultivar ‘IR64’, we pyramided multiple early or late heading quantitative trait locus (QTLs) in the ‘IR64’ genetic background by crossing previously developed near-isogenic lines (NILs) with a single QTL for early or late heading. The effects of pyramiding QTLs were observed in three different climatic zones of the Philippines, Madagascar, and Japan. The early heading pyramiding lines (PYLs) headed 6.2 to 12.8 days earlier than ‘IR64’ while the late heading PYLs headed 18.8 to 27.1 days later than ‘IR64’. The PYLs tended to produce low grain yield compared to ‘IR64’. The low yield was not improved by combining SPIKE, which is a QTL that increases the number of spikelets per panicle. Conversely, ‘IR64-PYL(7+10)’ carrying Hd5 and Hd1 headed earlier, produced more tillers, and more panicles per m² than ‘IR64’, and mitigated the yield decrease in early heading. These results suggest that the effects of pyramided QTLs on heading date were consistent across various environments and PYLs could be used to enhance the adaptation of ‘IR64’ in other rice growing environments.     

长江中游湖泊鳜与大眼鳜的渐渗杂交

在长江中游鄱阳湖和洞庭湖鳜采样中,采集了兼具鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)和大眼鳜(S.kneri)部分形态特征的中间类型(主要特征:口裂后缘伸达眼睛后缘之下,眼睛大小、头后背前部隆起介于鳜与大眼鳜之间)48尾。为了明确中间类型的分类学关系,采用量化传统形态分类指标、筛选种间特异微卫星标记,对中间类型个体进行鉴定分析。结果:(1)量化分析表明,鳜和大眼鳜在头长/眼径、(吻长+眼径)/口裂长上存在显著差异,鳜头长/眼径为5.286～7.157、(吻长+眼径)/口裂长为0.811～0.999,大眼鳜分别为3.306～5.106和1.040～1.166。48尾中间类型中,5尾判定为鳜,其他43尾个体仍不能鉴定。(2)从28对微卫星标记中筛选出5个鳜和大眼鳜的种间鉴别位点(T103、T063、T089、T135、W19517),利用这5个位点对中间类型的个体进行遗传分析和鉴定,中间类型中有16尾为种间杂交后代,其中9尾为杂交F_1与大眼鳜的回交个体。长江中游湖泊中鳜和大眼鳜存在种间渐渗杂交,今后需加强长江鳜鱼野生资源遗传监测和管理。     

Quantitative trait loci analysis for root traits in synthetic hexaploid wheat under drought stress conditions

Synthetic hexaploid wheat(SHW), possesses numerous genes for drought that can help breeding for drought-tolerant wheat varieties. We evaluated 10 root traits at seedling stage in 111 F9 recombinant inbred lines derived from a F2 population of a SHW line(SHW-L1) and a common wheat line, under normal(NC) and polyethylene glycol-simulated drought stress conditions(DC). We mapped quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for root traits using an enriched high-density genetic map containing 120 370 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs), 733 diversity arrays technology markers(DArT) and 119 simple sequence repeats(SSRs). With four replicates per treatment, we identified 19 QTLs for root traits under NC and DC, and 12 of them could be consistently detected with three or four replicates. Two novel QTLs for root fresh weight and root diameter under NC explained 9 and 15.7% of the phenotypic variation respectively, and six novel QTLs for root fresh weight, the ratio of root water loss, total root surface area, number of root tips, and number of root forks under DC explained 8.5–14% of the phenotypic variation. Here seven of eight novel QTLs could be consistently detected with more than three replicates. Results provide essential information for fine-mapping QTLs related to drought tolerance that will facilitate breeding drought-tolerant wheat cultivars.     

Genetic bases of source-,sink-,and yield-related traits revealed by genome-wide association study in Xian rice

The source-sink relationship determines the ultimate grain yield.We investigated the genetic basis of the relationship between source and sink and yield potential in rice.In two environments,we identified quantitative trait loci(QTL)associated with sink capacity(total spikelet number per panicle and thousand-grain weight),source leaf(flag leaf length,flag leaf width and flag leaf area),source-sink relationship(total spikelet number to flag leaf area ratio)and yield-related traits(filled grain number per panicle,panicle number per plant,grain yield per plant,biomass per plant,and harvest index)by genome-wide association analysis using 272 Xian(indica)accessions.The panel showed substantial variation for all traits in the two environments and revealed complex phenotypic correlations.A total of 70 QTL influencing the 11 traits were identified using 469,377 high-quality SNP markers.Five QTL were detected consistently in four chromosomal regions in both environments.Five QTL clusters simultaneously affected source,sink,source–sink relationship,and grain yield traits,probably explaining the genetic basis of significant correlations of grain yield with source and sink traits.We selected 24 candidate genes in the four consistent QTL regions by identifying linkage disequilibrium(LD)blocks associated with significant SNPs and performing haplotype analysis.The genes included one cloned gene(NOG1)and three newly identified QTL(qHI6,qTGW7,and qFLA8).These results provide a theoretical basis for high-yield rice breeding by increasing and balancing source–sink relationships using marker-assisted selection.     

水分和盐胁迫下小麦种子萌发相关性状的QTL定位

小麦萌发期对水分和盐胁迫敏感,对该时期水分和盐胁迫下种子萌发性状进行QTL定位具有重要的意义。本研究以小麦“泰农18×临麦6号” RIL群体为材料,以20%PEG-6000溶液和100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl溶液分别模拟水分和盐胁迫环境,对种子萌发期10个性状进行了QTL定位。结果表明,在正常、水分胁迫和盐胁迫3种不同处理下各性状变异较大。相关分析表明,抗旱和耐盐可能是两个独立遗传的性状,胚芽鞘长可以作为节水抗旱的鉴定指标。3种处理下共检测到10个萌发相关性状的103个QTL,其中,17个为相对高频QTL（RHF-QTL）,分布在7条染色体（1A、3A、3B、4B、7A、7B和7D）上,平均贡献率为7.55%~15.97%。这些RHF-QTL形成4个QTL簇（QTL cluster,QC）,分布在3A、7A和7D染色体上。其中,7A染色体上的QC2包括3个RHF-QTLs（ QSdw-7A.1、 QGf-7A.1和 QGi-7A.1）,均与小麦耐盐性相关;7D染色体上的QC3包括2个RHF-QTLs（ QGi-7D.1、 QGdrc-7D.1）,均与小麦节水抗旱性相关。这2个QCs增加效应均来自母本泰农18。本研究获得的RHF-QTLs和QCs,可为小麦萌发期节水抗旱和耐盐分子标记辅助选择提供理论和技术支持。     

Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.     

小麦山农4143抗黑胚病遗传分析及抗性遗传位点检测

黑胚病是小麦生产的重要籽粒病害,麦根腐平脐蠕孢(Bipolaris sorokiniana)是黑胚病的主要致病菌.为分析小麦抗黑胚病遗传规律并检测抗性位点,本研究以抗黑胚病小麦品系山农4143与感病品系宛原白1号的F7代重组自交系(RIL)群体为材料,于2018～2019年在3个试验点种植,采用“孢子液喷洒、套袋保湿”...