scholarly journals Overdominance and Epistasis Are Important for the Genetic Basis of Heterosis in Brassica rapa

HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 1207-1211 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Kun Dong ◽  
Jia-Shu Cao ◽  
Kai Shi ◽  
Le-Cheng Liu

To investigate the genetic basis of heterosis in Brassica rapa, an F2 population was produced from the cross of B. rapa L. subsp. chinensis (L.) Hanelt and B. rapa L. subsp. rapifera Metzg. Trait performances of the F1 hybrid showed evident mid parent heterosis, which varied from 18.55% to 101.62% for the 11 traits investigated. A total of 23 main effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for biomass and its component traits, which could explain 4.38% to 47.80% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. Sixty-five percent of these QTLs showed obvious overdominance. Epistasis analysis detected 444 two-locus interactions for the 11 traits at the threshold of P < 0.005. Some of them remained significant when more stringent threshold were set. These results suggested that overdominance and epistasis might play an important role as the genetic basis of heterosis in B. rapa.

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 165 (3) ◽  
pp. 1307-1315
Author(s):  
Daibin Zhong ◽  
Aditi Pai ◽  
Guiyun Yan

Abstract Parasites have profound effects on host ecology and evolution, and the effects of parasites on host ecology are often influenced by the magnitude of host susceptibility to parasites. Many parasites have complex life cycles that require intermediate hosts for their transmission, but little is known about the genetic basis of the intermediate host's susceptibility to these parasites. This study examined the genetic basis of susceptibility to a tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta) in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) that serves as an intermediate host in its transmission. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping experiments were conducted with two independent segregating populations using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of five QTL that significantly affected beetle susceptibility were identified in the two reciprocal crosses. Two common QTL on linkage groups 3 and 6 were identified in both crosses with similar effects on the phenotype, and three QTL were unique to each cross. In one cross, the three main QTL accounted for 29% of the total phenotypic variance and digenic epistasis explained 39% of the variance. In the second cross, the four main QTL explained 62% of the variance and digenic epistasis accounted for only 5% of the variance. The actions of these QTL were either overdominance or underdominance. Our results suggest that the polygenic nature of beetle susceptibility to the parasites and epistasis are important genetic mechanisms for the maintenance of variation within or among beetle strains in susceptibility to tapeworm infection.


2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonggui Xiao ◽  
Shengmei He ◽  
Jun Yan ◽  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Yelun Zhang ◽  
...  

The improvement of kernel morphology traits is an important goal in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding programs because of their close relationship with grain yield and milling quality. The aim of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for kernel morphology traits using 240 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between the non-1BL.1RS translocation cv. PH 82-2 and the 1BL.1RS translocation cv. Neixiang 188, grown in six environments in China. Inclusive composite interval mapping identified 71 main-effect QTL on 16 chromosomes for seven kernel morphology traits measured by digital imaging, viz. kernel length, width, perimeter, area, shape factor, factor form-density and width/length ratio. Each of these loci explained from 2.6 to 28.2% of the phenotypic variation. Eight QTL clusters conferring the largest effects on kernel weight and kernel morphology traits were detected on chromosomes 1BL.1RS (2), 2A, 4A, 4B, 6B, 6D and 7A. Fourteen epistatic QTL were identified for all kernel morphology traits except kernel width/length ratio, involving 24 main-effect QTL distributed on 13 chromosomes, and explaining 2.5–8.3% of the phenotypic variance. Five loci, viz. Sec-1 on 1BL.1RS, Glu-B1 on 1BL, Xcfe53 on 2A, Xwmc238 on 4B, and Xbarc174 on 7A, were detected consistently across environments, and their linked DNA markers may be used for marker-assisted selection in breeding for improved wheat kernel traits and grain yield.


2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1569) ◽  
pp. 1368-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Tétard-Jones ◽  
M. A. Kertesz ◽  
R. F. Preziosi

Community genetic studies generally ignore the plasticity of the functional traits through which the effect is passed from individuals to the associated community. However, the ability of organisms to be phenotypically plastic allows them to rapidly adapt to changing environments and plasticity is commonly observed across all taxa. Owing to the fitness benefits of phenotypic plasticity, evolutionary biologists are interested in its genetic basis, which could explain how phenotypic plasticity is involved in the evolution of species interactions. Two current ideas exist: (i) phenotypic plasticity is caused by environmentally sensitive loci associated with a phenotype; (ii) phenotypic plasticity is caused by regulatory genes that simply influence the plasticity of a phenotype. Here, we designed a quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping experiment to locate QTL on the barley genome associated with barley performance when the environment varies in the presence of aphids, and the composition of the rhizosphere. We simultaneously mapped aphid performance across variable rhizosphere environments. We mapped main effects, QTL × environment interaction (QTL×E), and phenotypic plasticity (measured as the difference in mean trait values) for barley and aphid performance onto the barley genome using an interval mapping procedure. We found that QTL associated with phenotypic plasticity were co-located with main effect QTL and QTL×E. We also located phenotypic plasticity QTL that were located separately from main effect QTL. These results support both of the current ideas of how phenotypic plasticity is genetically based and provide an initial insight into the functional genetic basis of how phenotypically plastic traits may still be important sources of community genetic effects.


2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 926-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Yue ◽  
S. A. Radi ◽  
B. A. Vick ◽  
X. Cai ◽  
S. Tang ◽  
...  

Sclerotinia head rot is a major disease of sunflower in the world, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping could facilitate understanding of the genetic basis of head rot resistance and breeding in sunflower. One hundred twenty-three F2:3 and F2:4 families from a cross between HA 441 and RHA 439 were studied. The mapping population was evaluated for disease resistance in three field experiments in a randomized complete block design with two replicates. Disease incidence (DI) and disease severity (DS) were assessed. A genetic map with 180 target region amplification polymorphism, 32 simple sequence repeats, 11 insertion-deletion, and 2 morphological markers was constructed. Nine DI and seven DS QTL were identified with each QTL explaining 8.4 to 34.5% of phenotypic variance, suggesting the polygenic basis of the resistance to head rot. Five of these QTL were identified in more than one experiment, and each QTL explained more than 12.9% of phenotypic variance. These QTL could be useful in sunflower breeding. Although a positive correlation existed between the two disease indices, most of the respective QTL were located in different chromosomal regions, suggesting a different genetic basis for the two indices.


Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 161 (2) ◽  
pp. 673-684
Author(s):  
J Gadau ◽  
R E Page ◽  
J H Werren

Abstract There is a 2.5-fold difference in male wing size between two haplodiploid insect species, Nasonia vitripennis and N. giraulti. The haploidy of males facilitated a full genomic screen for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting wing size and the detection of epistatic interactions. A QTL analysis of the interspecific wing-size difference revealed QTL with major effects and epistatic interactions among loci affecting the trait. We analyzed 178 hybrid males and initially found two major QTL for wing length, one for wing width, three for a normalized wing-size variable, and five for wing seta density. One QTL for wing width explains 38.1% of the phenotypic variance, and the same QTL explains 22% of the phenotypic variance in normalized wing size. This corresponds to a region previously introgressed from N. giraulti into N. vitripennis that accounts for 44% of the normalized wing-size difference between the species. Significant epistatic interactions were also found that affect wing size and density of setae on the wing. Screening for pairwise epistatic interactions between loci on different linkage groups revealed four additional loci for wing length and four loci for normalized wing size that were not detected in the original QTL analysis. We propose that the evolution of smaller wings in N. vitripennis males is primarily the result of major mutations at few genomic regions and involves epistatic interactions among some loci.


Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 367-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
H D Bradshaw ◽  
Kevin G Otto ◽  
Barbara E Frewen ◽  
John K McKay ◽  
Douglas W Schemske

Abstract Conspicuous differences in floral morphology are partly responsible for reproductive isolation between two sympatric species of monkeyflower because of their effect on visitation of the flowers by different pollinators. Mimulus lewisii flowers are visited primarily by bumblebees, whereas M. cardinalis flowers are visited mostly by hummingbirds. The genetic control of 12 morphological differences between the flowers of M. lewisii and M. cardinalis was explored in a large linkage mapping population of F2 plants (n = 465) to provide an accurate estimate of the number and magnitude of effect of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) governing each character. Between one and six QTLs were identified for each trait. Most (9/12) traits appear to be controlled in part by at least one major QTL explaining ≥25% of the total phenotypic variance. This implies that either single genes of individually large effect or linked clusters of genes with a large cumulative effect can play a role in the evolution of reproductive isolation and speciation.


Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 1233-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R Shook ◽  
Thomas E Johnson

Abstract We have identified, using composite interval mapping, quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting a variety of life history traits (LHTs) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Using recombinant inbred strains assayed on the surface of agar plates, we found QTL for survival, early fertility, age of onset of sexual maturity, and population growth rate. There was no overall correlation between survival on solid media and previous measures of survival in liquid media. Of the four survival QTL found in these two environments, two have genotype-environment interactions (GEIs). Epistatic interactions between markers were detected for four traits. A multiple regression approach was used to determine which single markers and epistatic interactions best explained the phenotypic variance for each trait. The amount of phenotypic variance accounted for by genetic effects ranged from 13% (for internal hatching) to 46% (for population growth). Epistatic effects accounted for 9–11% of the phenotypic variance for three traits. Two regions containing QTL that affected more than one fertility-related trait were found. This study serves as an example of the power of QTL mapping for dissecting the genetic architecture of a suite of LHTs and indicates the potential importance of environment and GEIs in the evolution of this architecture.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Islam ◽  
John Ontoy ◽  
Prasanta Subudhi

Soil and water salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that reduce growth and productivity in major food crops including rice. The lack of congruence of salt tolerance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in multiple genetic backgrounds and multiple environments is a major hindrance for undertaking marker-assisted selection (MAS). A genome-wide meta-analysis of QTLs controlling seedling-stage salt tolerance was conducted in rice using QTL information from 12 studies. Using a consensus map, 11 meta-QTLs for three traits with smaller confidence intervals were localized on chromosomes 1 and 2. The phenotypic variance of 3 meta-QTLs was ≥20%. Based on phenotyping of 56 diverse genotypes and breeding lines, six salt-tolerant genotypes (Bharathy, I Kung Ban 4-2 Mutant, Langmanbi, Fatehpur 3, CT-329, and IARI 5823) were identified. The perusal of the meta-QTL regions revealed several candidate genes associated with salt-tolerance attributes. The lack of association between meta-QTL linked markers and the level of salt tolerance could be due to the low resolution of meta-QTL regions and the genetic complexity of salt tolerance. The meta-QTLs identified in this study will be useful not only for MAS and pyramiding, but will also accelerate the fine mapping and cloning of candidate genes associated with salt-tolerance mechanisms in rice.


Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1117
Author(s):  
Pragya Adhikari ◽  
James McNellie ◽  
Dilip R. Panthee

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the second most-consumed vegetable in the world. The market value and culinary purpose of tomato are often determined by fruit size and shape, which makes the genetic improvement of these traits a priority for tomato breeders. The main objective of the study was to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the tomato fruit shape and size. The use of elite breeding materials in the genetic mapping studies will facilitate the detection of genetic loci of direct relevance to breeders. We performed QTL analysis in an intra-specific population of tomato developed from a cross between two elite breeding lines NC 30P × NC-22L-1(2008) consisting of 110 recombinant inbred lines (RIL). The precision software Tomato Analyzer (TA) was used to measure fruit morphology attributes associated with fruit shape and size traits. The RIL population was genotyped with the SolCAP 7720 SNP array. We identified novel QTL controlling elongated fruit shape on chromosome 10, explaining up to 24% of the phenotypic variance. This information will be useful in improving tomato fruit morphology traits.


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