Unraveling the complex trait of crop yield with quantitative trait loci mapping in Brassica napus.
Yield is the most important and complex trait for the genetic improvement of crops. Although much research into the genetic basis of yield and yield-associated traits has been reported, in each such experiment the genetic architecture and determinants of yield have remained ambiguous. One of the most intractable problems is the interaction between genes and the environment. We identified 85 quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed yield along with 785 QTL for eight yield-associated traits, from 10 natural environments and two related populations of rapeseed. A trait-by-trait meta-analysis revealed 401 consensus QTL, of which 82.5% were clustered and integrated into 111 pleiotropic unique QTL by meta-analysis, 47 of which were relevant for seed yield. The complexity of the genetic architecture of yield was demonstrated, illustrating the pleiotropy, synthesis, variability, and plasticity of yield QTL. The idea of estimating indicator QTL for yield QTL and identifying potential candidate genes for yield provides an advance in methodology for complex traits.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Jiaqin
J
Shi
Ruiyuan
R
Li
Dan
D
Qiu
Congcong
C
Jiang
Yan
Y
Long
Colin
C
Morgan
Ian
I
Bancroft
Jianyi
J
Zhao
Jinling
J
Meng
D018533:Biomass; D029688:Brassica napus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors
D005819:Genetic Markers