Although quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping has been successful in describing the genetic architecture of complex traits, the molecular basis of quantitative variation is less well understood, especially in plants such as maize that have large genome sizes. Regulatory changes at the teosinte branched1 (tb1) gene have been proposed to underlie QTLs of large effect for morphological differences that distinguish maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) from its wild ancestors, the teosintes (Z. mays ssp. parviglumis and mexicana). We used a fine mapping approach to show that intergenic sequences approximately 58-69 kb 5' to the tb1 cDNA confer pleiotropic effects on Z. mays morphology. Moreover, using an allele-specific expression assay, we found that sequences >41 kb upstream of tb1 act in cis to alter tb1 transcription. Our findings show that the large stretches of noncoding DNA that comprise the majority of many plant genomes can be a source of variation affecting gene expression and quantitative phenotypes.

Genetic maps of Brassica napus were constructed from four segregating populations of doubled haploid lines. Each mapping population had the same male parent and used the same set of RFLP probes, facilitating the construction of a consensus map. Chromosomal rearrangements were identified in each population by molecular marker analysis and were classified as de novo homeologous nonreciprocal transpositions (HNRTs), preexisting HNRTs, and homeologous reciprocal transpositions (HRTs). Ninety-nine de novo HNRTs were identified by the presence of a few lines having duplication of a chromosomal region and loss of the corresponding homeologous region. These de novo HNRTs were more prevalent in one population that had a resynthesized B. napus as a parent. Preexisting HNRTs were identified by fragment duplication or fragment loss in many DH lines due to the segregation of HNRTs preexisting in one of the parents. Nine preexisting HNRTs were identified in the three populations involving natural B. napus parents, which likely originated from previous homeologous exchanges. The male parent had a previously described HRT between N7 and N16, which segregated in each population. These data suggest that chromosomal rearrangements caused by homeologous recombination are widespread in B. napus. The effects of these rearrangements on allelic and phenotypic diversity are discussed.

Novel phenotypes often arise in generations immediately following polyploidization. Previous studies have shown that separate lineages derived from a resynthesized Brassica napus allopolyploid rapidly evolved heritable differences in flowering time. These early-flowering and late-flowering polyploid lines were expected to be genetically identical because they were derived from a single, chromosome-doubled amphihaploid plant. In this study, we investigated the molecular genetic basis for these flowering time differences. We assessed the diploid B. rapa and B. oleracea parents and the early-and late-flowering B. napus lineages for changes in genome structure, and for changes in transcript levels of four sets of FLOWERING LOCUS C ( FLC ) genes. No such changes were observed for BnFLC1 , but we detected chromosomal rearrangements (e.g. de novo non-reciprocal transpositions) and changes in transcript level for BnFLC2 and BnFLC3 between the early-and late-flowering B. napus . A chromosomal rearrangement of a genomic segment containing BnFLC3 was responsible for 29% of the phenotypic variation among the B. napus lines. Expression of BnFLC5 was silenced in all polyploids, although no changes in genome structure were detected. An ongoing investigation of 50 identical B. napus allopolyploids may further reveal the dynamics of changes in phenotype, genome and transcriptome at the early stages in polyploid evolution.

Unadapted germplasm may contain alleles that could improve hybrid cultivars of spring oilseed Brassica napus. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was used to identify potentially useful alleles from two unadapted germplasm sources, a Chinese winter cultivar and a re-synthesized B. napus, that increase seed yield when introgressed into a B. napus spring hybrid combination. Two populations of 160 doubled haploid (DH) lines were created from crosses between the unadapted germplasm source and a genetically engineered male-fertility restorer line (P1804). A genetically engineered male-sterile tester line was used to create hybrids with each DH line (testcrosses). The two DH line populations were evaluated in two environments and the two testcross populations were evaluated in three or four environments for seed yield and other agronomic traits. Several genomic regions were found in the two testcross populations which contained QTL for seed yield. The map positions of QTL for days to flowering and resistance to a bacterial leaf blight disease coincided with QTL for seed yield and other agronomic traits, suggesting the occurrence of pleiotropic or linked effects. For two hybrid seed yield QTL, the favorable alleles increasing seed yield originated from the unadapted parents, and one of these QTL was detected in multiple environments and in both populations. In this QTL region, a chromosome rearrangement was identified in P1804, which may have affected seed yield.