title: Identification of candidate genes JcARF19 and JcIAA9 associated with seed size traits in Jatropha.
abstract: Jatropha curcas is a new promising bioenergy crop due to the high oil content in its seeds that can be converted into biodiesel. Seed size, a major determinant of Jatropha oil yield, is a target trait for Jatropha breeding. Due to the vital roles of phytohormone auxin in controlling seed and fruit development, we screened key genes in auxin pathway including ARF and IAA families and downstream effectors to identify candidate genes controlling seed size in Jatropha. As a result, JcARF19 was mapped in the major quantitative trait locus (QTL) region and significantly associated with seed length. By using expression QTL (eQTL) analysis to link variants with functional candidate genes, we provided evidences that seed traits were affected by the interaction of JcARF19 and JcIAA9. ARF19 and IAA9, involved in auxin signal transduction, were conserved in higher plants. These data including the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the two genes could lead to utilization of the genes by integrating favored alleles into elite varieties through marker-assisted selection.
authors.affiliation: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chengsong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Xianghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yulin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Genhua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Chunming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D017343:Genes, Plant; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D031286:Jatropha / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D012639:Seeds / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins