title: Genetic analysis of phytosterol content in sunflower seeds.
abstract: Interest in phytosterol contents due to their potential benefits for human health has been largely documented in several crop species. Studies were focused mainly on total sterol content and their concentration or distribution in seed. This study aimed at providing new insight into the genetic control of total and individual sterol contents in sunflower seed through QTL analyses in a RIL population characterized over 2 years showing contrasted rainfall during seed filling. Results indicated that 13 regions on 9 linkage groups were involved in different phytosterol traits. Most of the QTL mapped were stable across years in spite of contrasted growing conditions. Some of them explained up to 30 % of phenotypic variation. Two QTL, located on LG10, near b1, and on LG14, were found to co-localize with QTL for oil content, indicating that likely, a part of the genetic variation for sterol content is only the result of genetic variation for oil content. However, three other QTL, stable over the 2 years, were found on LG1, LG4 and LG7 each associated with a particular class of sterols, suggesting that some enzymes known to be involved in the sterol metabolic pathway may determine the specificity of sterol profiles in sunflower seeds. These results suggest that it may be possible to introduce these traits as criteria in breeding programmes for quality in sunflower. The molecular markers linked to genetic factors controlling phytosterol contents could help selection during breeding programs.
authors: Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-industrielle (LCA), INP-ENSIACET, Université de Toulouse, 31030 Toulouse, France. othmane.merah@ensiacet.fr
authors: Othmane
authors: O
authors: Merah
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Langlade
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Alignan
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Roche
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Pouilly
authors: Yannick
authors: Y
authors: Lippi
authors: Felicity
authors: F
authors: Vear
authors: Muriel
authors: M
authors: Cerny
authors: Andrée
authors: A
authors: Bouniols
authors: Zephirin
authors: Z
authors: Mouloungui
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Vincourt
mesh_terms: D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D002980:Climate; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005602:France; D006368:Helianthus / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007178:Inbreeding; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074242:Sunflower Oil
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074242:Sunflower Oil