title: Plastic expression of heterochrony quantitative trait loci (hQTLs) for leaf growth in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).
abstract: Heterochrony, that is, evolutionary changes in the relative timing of developmental events and processes, has emerged as a key concept that links evolution and development. Genes associated with heterochrony encode molecular components of developmental timing mechanisms. However, our understanding of how heterochrony genes alter the expression of heterochrony in response to environmental changes remains very limited. We applied functional mapping to find quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for growth trajectories of leaf area and leaf mass in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown in two contrasting environments. We identified three major QTLs pleiotropically expressed under the two environments. Further characterization of the temporal pattern of these QTLs indicates that they are heterochrony QTLs (hQTLs) in terms of their role in influencing four heterochronic parameters: the timing of the inflection point, the timing of maximum acceleration and deceleration, and the duration of linear growth. The pattern of gene action by the hQTLs on each parameter was unique, being environmentally dependent and varying between two allometrically related leaf growth traits. These results provide new insights into the complexity of genetic mechanisms that control trait formation in plants and provide novel findings that will be of use in studying the evolutionary trends.
authors: Center for Computational Biology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
authors: Libo
authors: L
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
authors: Jose A
authors: JA
authors: Clavijo
authors: Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment and College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
authors: Lidan
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Center for Computational Biology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
authors: Xuli
authors: X
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
authors: Mehul S
authors: MS
authors: Bhakta
authors: School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
authors: Salvador A
authors: SA
authors: Gezan
authors: School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Carvalho
authors: Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
authors: C Eduardo
authors: CE
authors: Vallejos
authors: Center for Computational Biology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.|Center for Statistical Genetics, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
authors: Rongling
authors: R
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D003105:Colombia; D004777:Environment; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D012987:Soil; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); functional mapping; heterochrony; heterochrony quantitative trait loci (hQTLs); quantitative trait loci (QTLs)