ARS | Publication request: Mapping the quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling seed morphology in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 9, 2008
Publication Date: March 9, 2008
Repository URL: http://www.sunflowernsa.com/research/research-workshop/documents/Yue_SeedmorphologyQTL_08.pdf
Citation: Yue, B., Cai, X., Yuan, W., Vick, B.A., Hu, J. 2008. Mapping the quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling seed morphology in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). 30th Sunflower Research Workshop, National Sunflower Association, January 10-11, 2008, Fargo, ND. Available: http://www.sunflowernsa.com/research/research-workshop/documents/Yue_SeedmorphologyQTL_08.pdf

Interpretive Summary: Great differences in seed morphology differentiate the oilseed type from confection type of sunflowers. Although the oilseed is the major type of cultivated sunflower, the market and production area of confection sunflower has increased in recent years. This paper reports the mapping of 52 quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying sunflower seed morphology with a linkage map containing 165 TRAP and 44 SSR markers from an F2 population of 120 plants. The female parent was HA 89, an oilseed line, and the male was NCCL, a confection sunflower line introduced from China. The effects of the mapped QTL on seed morphology traits such as seed and kernel size, shape, stripe and asymmetry could be assessed in both F2 and F2:3 generations. Most of the QTL were clustered in seven chromosomal regions and four of the regions were reported previously to harbor similar QTL. The information generated by this study could be useful in confection sunflower breeding.

Technical Abstract: This paper reports the results of analyzing the quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying sunflower seed morphological traits in a segregating population derived from an oilseed by confection cross. A linkage map containing 165 target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) and 44 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was constructed from 120 F2 plants. This map contained 17 linkage groups and spanned a total genetic distance of 1784.3 cM. A total of 52 QTL for 12 seed traits were detected and 32 of them were identified in both F2 and F2:3 generations. Each QTL explained 5.1-29.3% of the phenotypic variation, suggesting these traits were controlled by multiple genes. Most of the QTL were clustered in seven chromosomal regions and four of these regions were located in the same chromosomal regions as previously reported by other researchers studying similar QTL. Moreover, alleles from the confection line at these QTL had positive effects on these traits. The information generated by this study could be useful in confection sunflower breeding.