ARS | Publication request: QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCUS ANALYSIS AS A GENE DISCOVERY TOOL

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: October 15, 2002
Publication Date: August 1, 2003
Citation: MCMULLEN, M.D. PLANT FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS: METHODS & PROTOCOLS. GROTEWOLD, E., ED. HUMANA PRESS, INC., TOTOWA, NJ. QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCUS ANALYSIS AS A GENE DISCOVERY TOOL. BOOK CHAPTER. 2003. V. 236. P. 141-154.

Technical Abstract: Quantitative trait locus analysis has been a mainstay approach for obtaining a genetic description of complex agronomic traits for plants. What is sometimes overlooked is the role QTL analysis can play in identifying genes that underlay complex traits. In this chapter, I will describe the basic steps required to conduct QTL analysis in crop plants. This process involves choices by the investigator on type of population to be studied, molecular marker system to be used to genotype the population, and methods for QTL analysis. Examples of cloned genes, first identified as QTL, are also given to persuade the reader of the power of QTL analysis to discover genes controlling traits and phenotypes.