Genetic mapping of DArT markers in the Festuca–Lolium complex and their use in freezing tolerance association analysis

Abstract

Species belonging to the Festuca-Lolium complex are important forage and turf species and as such, have been studied intensively. However, their out-crossing nature and limited availability of molecular markers make genetic studies difficult. Here, we report on saturation of F. pratensis and L. multiflorum genetic maps using Diversity Array Technology (DArT) markers and the DArTFest array.The 530 and 149 DArT markers were placed on genetic maps of L. multiflorum and F. pratensis, respectively, with overlap of 20 markers, which mapped in both species. The markers were sequenced and comparative sequence analysis was performed between L. multiflorum, rice and Brachypodium. The utility of the DArTFest array was then tested on a Festulolium population FuRs0357 in an integrated analysis using the DArT marker map positions to study associations between markers and freezing tolerance. Ninety six markers were significantly associated with freezing tolerance and five of these markers were genetically mapped to chromosomes 2, 4 and 7. Three genomic loci associated with freezing tolerance in the FuRs0357 population co-localized with chromosome segments and QTLs previously identified to be associated with freezing tolerance. The present work clearly confirms the potential of the DArTFest array in genetic studies of the Festuca-Lolium complex. The annotated DArTFest array resources could accelerate further studies and improvement of desired traits in Festuca-Lolium species.

Morphology, dry matter yield and phenological characters at different maturity stages of ×Festuloliumcompared with other grass species

“…Investigations of introgressed material using in situ hybridisation have identified very small fescue segments in the genomes of the hybrid derivatives (Lideykytė et al 2006). Bartoš et al (2011) showed that )Festulolium Lp Fp -D-N (FuRs0357) contains genotypes with a high frost tolerance and were able to map and associate DArT markers to quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for frost tolerance. However, few fescue chromosomal segments were present in the frost tolerant genotypes and both diploid and tetraploid plants were found.…”

Using DArT Markers in Festuca × Lolium Breeding

“…Changes from polycross to commercial seed generation were especially surveyed at those markers. In respect with mapping, Bartoš et al (2011) mapped 530 DArT markers in L. multiflorum. The present assay of 2,149 markers included 262 of those mapped markers, of which 29 belonged to the 151 Lm-specific markers previously identified.…”

“…DArT technology based on DNA restriction and hybridisation on a micro-array revealed to fulfil these requirements of robust system for broad genome coverage (Jaccoud et al 2001). It was first applied within the Festuca/Lolium complex of species by Kopecký et al (2009) with successful application to genotyping of Festulolium hybrids (Kopecký et al 2011) and to mapping in L. multiflorum and F. pratensis (Bartoš et al 2011).…”

DArTFest DNA Array—Applications and Perspectives for Grass Genetics, Genomics and Breeding

“…However, its efficient application requires markers linked to traits of interest. Bartoš et al (2011) were able to identify 96 DArT markers with significantly different distribution between high freezing tolerant and low freezing tolerant plants, but only five of these markers could be mapped on the F. pratensis genetic map. Colinearity with sequenced Brachypodium genome indicated the localization of a freezing tolerance QTL in the central part of chromosome 4 and a distal part of the short arm of chromosome 2 in Lolium and Festuca.…”