title: Genetic-geographic correlation revealed across a broad European ecotypic sample of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) using array-based SNP genotyping.
abstract: Publically available SNP array increases the marker density for genotyping of forage crop, Lolium perenne. Applied to 90 European ecotypes composed of 716 individuals identifies a significant genetic-geographic correlation. Grassland ecosystems are ubiquitous across temperate and tropical regions, totalling 37% of the terrestrial land cover of the planet, and thus represent a global resource for understanding local adaptations to environment. However, genomic resources for grass species (outside cereals) are relatively poor. The advent of next-generation DNA sequencing and high-density SNP genotyping platforms enables the development of dense marker assays for population genetics analyses and genome-wide association studies. A high-density SNP marker resource (Illumina Infinium assay) for perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was created and validated in a broad ecotype collection of 716 individuals sampled from 90 sites across Europe. Genetic diversity within and between populations was assessed. A strong correlation of geographic origin to genetic structure was found using principal component analysis, with significant correlation to longitude and latitude (P < 0.001). The potential of this array as a resource for studies of germplasm diversity and identifying traits underpinning adaptive variation is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3EE, Wales, UK. tib10@aber.ac.uk.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blackmore
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3EE, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3EE, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3EE, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3EE, Wales, UK. ayh@aber.ac.uk.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hegarty
mesh_terms: D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D060146:Ecotype; D005060:Europe; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D005843:Geography; D008129:Lolium / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers