Mapping quantitative trait loci for lint yield and fiber quality across environments in a Gossypium hirsutum × Gossypium barbadense backcross inbred line population

Abstract

Identification of stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) across different environments and mapping populations is a prerequisite for marker-assisted selection (MAS) for cotton yield and fiber quality. To construct a genetic linkage map and to identify QTLs for fiber quality and yield traits, a backcross inbred line (BIL) population of 146 lines was developed from a cross between Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense) through two generations of backcrossing using Upland cotton as the recurrent parent followed by four generations of self pollination. The BIL population together with its two parents was tested in five environments representing three major cotton production regions in China. The genetic map spanned a total genetic distance of 2,895 cM and contained 392 polymorphic SSR loci with an average genetic distance of 7.4 cM per marker. A total of 67 QTLs including 28 for fiber quality and 39 for yield and its components were detected on 23 chromosomes, each of which explained 6.65-25.27% of the phenotypic variation. Twenty-nine QTLs were located on the At subgenome originated from a cultivated diploid cotton, while 38 were on the Dt subgenome from an ancestor that does not produce spinnable fibers. Of the eight common QTLs (12%) detected in more than two environments, two were for fiber quality traits including one for fiber strength and one for uniformity, and six for yield and its components including three for lint yield, one for seedcotton yield, one for lint percentage and one for boll weight. QTL clusters for the same traits or different traits were also identified. This research represents one of the first reports using a permanent advanced backcross inbred population of an interspecific hybrid population to identify QTLs for fiber quality and yield traits in cotton across diverse environments. It provides useful information for transferring desirable genes from G. barbadense to G. hirsutum using MAS.

Mapping genomic loci for cotton plant architecture, yield components, and fiber properties in an interspecific (Gossypium hirsutum L. × G. barbadense L.) RIL population

“…These difficulties have been reported in similar studies with other interspecific populations (Lacape et al 2010(Lacape et al , 2013Marathi et al 2012;Yu et al 2013;Zhu et al 2011). …”

“…Regardless of these difficulties, such segregating populations were used to map cotton yield and quality QTLs, and comparable data were obtained for traits across the multiple environment locations in other studies (Lacape et al 2013;Yu et al 2013). RIL populations are usually extended beyond F 6 -F 9 generations which have provided better genetic uniformity of trait response (homozygous alleles), reducing the external or environmental effects as compared to early generations on such traits as fiber yield that may not be highly precise due to the limited information in this area.…”

Mapping-by-sequencing of Ligon-lintless-1 (Li 1 ) reveals a cluster of neighboring genes with correlated expression in developing fibers of Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

“…DP5690 impressively elongate up to 30 mm in 4 weeks of development with fastest elongation around 8 days post anthesis (DPA), the Li 1 fiber cells only extend about 3 mm when fully mature (Gilbert et al 2013). The single dominant gene that confers this qualitative short fiber phenotype has previously been mapped to a region of chromosome 22 that has also been repeatedly identified in studies of quantitative cotton fiber traits, including quantitative trail loci (QTLs) for fiber length, fiber uniformity and yield of seed cotton Fang et al 2014;Jiang et al 1998;Karaca et al 2002;Rong et al 2005;Yu et al 2013). Despite many approaches including identification of differentially expressed proteins and transcripts, the number of candidate genes for the Li 1 mutation remains very high (Ding et al 2014;Gilbert et al 2013;Liu et al 2012;Zhao et al 2009).…”

Mapping QTL for cotton fiber quality traits using simple sequence repeat markers, conserved intron-scanning primers, and transcript-derived fragments

“…With the advancements in molecular marker technology, marker-assisted selection (MAS) combined with conventional backcrossing has become an effective technique for introducing multiple traits. One example of this approach is the construction of genetic maps for cotton genomes, using SSR markers (e.g., Ulloa and Meredith 2000;Lacape et al 2003;Mei et al 2004;Nguyen et al 2004;Han et al 2004;Lin et al 2005;Yu et al2007;Guo et al 2008;Zhang et al 2009Zhang et al , 2012Sun et al 2012;Yu et al 2013;Wang et al 2013a, b). Other molecular marker systems have also provided valuable tools for genetic dissection of complex traits; For example, complementary DNA (cDNA) -amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) has been applied to detect coding sequence polymorphisms of target genes in a segregating population, so that these transcript polymorphisms can be directly used as genetic markers (e.g., Biezen et al 2000;Lister and Dean 1993;Brugmans et al 2002;Liu et al 2009).…”