The genetic map of Artemisia annua L. identifies loci affecting yield of the antimalarial drug artemisinin.
Artemisinin is a plant natural product produced by Artemisia annua and the active ingredient in the most effective treatment for malaria. Efforts to eradicate malaria are increasing demand for an affordable, high-quality, robust supply of artemisinin. We performed deep sequencing on the transcriptome of A. annua to identify genes and markers for fast-track breeding. Extensive genetic variation enabled us to build a detailed genetic map with nine linkage groups. Replicated field trials resulted in a quantitative trait loci (QTL) map that accounts for a significant amount of the variation in key traits controlling artemisinin yield. Enrichment for positive QTLs in parents of new high-yielding hybrids confirms that the knowledge and tools to convert A. annua into a robust crop are now available.
Graham
Ian A
IA
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK. iag1@york.ac.uk
Besser
Katrin
K
Blumer
Susan
S
Branigan
Caroline A
CA
Czechowski
Tomasz
T
Elias
Luisa
L
Guterman
Inna
I
Harvey
David
D
Isaac
Peter G
PG
Khan
Awais M
AM
Larson
Tony R
TR
Li
Yi
Y
Pawson
Tanya
T
Penfield
Teresa
T
Rae
Anne M
AM
Rathbone
Deborah A
DA
Reid
Sonja
S
Ross
Joe
J
Smallwood
Margaret F
MF
Segura
Vincent
V
Townsend
Theresa
T
Vyas
Darshna
D
Winzer
Thilo
T
Bowles
Dianna
D
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000378:metabolism*; D019306:Artemisia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017343:Genes, Plant; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C031327:artemisinin