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Du B, Wu J, Wang Q, Sun C, Sun G, Zhou J, Zhang L, Xiong Q, Ren X, Lu B. Genome-wide screening of meta-QTL and candidate genes controlling yield and yield-related traits in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303751. [PMID: 38768114 PMCID: PMC11104655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing yield is an important goal of barley breeding. In this study, 54 papers published from 2001-2022 on QTL mapping for yield and yield-related traits in barley were collected, which contained 1080 QTLs mapped to the barley high-density consensus map for QTL meta-analysis. These initial QTLs were integrated into 85 meta-QTLs (MQTL) with a mean confidence interval (CI) of 2.76 cM, which was 7.86-fold narrower than the CI of the initial QTL. Among these 85 MQTLs, 68 MQTLs were validated in GWAS studies, and 25 breeder's MQTLs were screened from them. Seventeen barley orthologs of yield-related genes in rice and maize were identified within the hcMQTL region based on comparative genomics strategy and were presumed to be reliable candidates for controlling yield-related traits. The results of this study provide useful information for molecular marker-assisted breeding and candidate gene mining of yield-related traits in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Du
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Jia Wu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | | | - Chaoyue Sun
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Genlou Sun
- Biology Department, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Jie Zhou
- Lu’an Academy of Agricultural Science, Lu’an, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Lu’an Academy of Agricultural Science, Lu’an, China
| | | | - Xifeng Ren
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Baowei Lu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
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Wei M, Huang Y, Mo C, Wang H, Zeng Q, Yang W, Chen J, Zhang X, Kong Q. Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of melon ( Cucumis melo L. var. inodorus) provides a high-quality reference for meta-QTL analysis of important traits. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad189. [PMID: 37915500 PMCID: PMC10615816 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Melon is an important horticultural crop with extensive diversity in many horticultural groups. To explore its genomic diversity, it is necessary to assemble more high-quality complete genomes from different melon accessions. Meanwhile, a large number of QTLs have been mapped in several studies. Integration of the published QTLs onto a complete genome can provide more accurate information for candidate gene cloning. To address these problems, a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome of the elite melon landrace Kuizilikjiz (Cucumis melo L. var. inodorus) was de novo assembled and all the published QTLs were projected onto it in this study. The results showed that a high-quality Kuizilikjiz genome with the size of 379.2 Mb and N50 of 31.7 Mb was de novo assembled using the combination of short reads, PacBio high-fidelity long reads, Hi-C data, and a high-density genetic map. Each chromosome contained the centromere and telomeres at both ends. A large number of structural variations were observed between Kuizilikjiz and the other published genomes. A total of 1294 QTLs published in 67 studies were collected and projected onto the T2T genome. Several clustered, co-localized, and overlapped QTLs were determined. Furthermore, 20 stable meta-QTLs were identified, which significantly reduced the mapping intervals of the initial QTLs and greatly facilitated identification of the candidate genes. Collectively, the T2T genome assembly together with the numerous projected QTLs will not only broaden the high-quality genome resources but also provide valuable and abundant QTL information for cloning the genes controlling important traits in melon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Wei
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ying Huang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Changjuan Mo
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qingguo Zeng
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wenli Yang
- Hami-melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
| | - Jihao Chen
- Hainan Sanya Experimental Center for Crop Breeding, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572014, China
| | - Xuejun Zhang
- Hami-melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
- Hainan Sanya Experimental Center for Crop Breeding, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572014, China
| | - Qiusheng Kong
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Sethi M, Saini DK, Devi V, Kaur C, Singh MP, Singh J, Pruthi G, Kaur A, Singh A, Chaudhary DP. Unravelling the genetic framework associated with grain quality and yield-related traits in maize ( Zea mays L.). Front Genet 2023; 14:1248697. [PMID: 37609038 PMCID: PMC10440565 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1248697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Maize serves as a crucial nutrient reservoir for a significant portion of the global population. However, to effectively address the growing world population's hidden hunger, it is essential to focus on two key aspects: biofortification of maize and improving its yield potential through advanced breeding techniques. Moreover, the coordination of multiple targets within a single breeding program poses a complex challenge. This study compiled mapping studies conducted over the past decade, identifying quantitative trait loci associated with grain quality and yield related traits in maize. Meta-QTL analysis of 2,974 QTLs for 169 component traits (associated with quality and yield related traits) revealed 68 MQTLs across different genetic backgrounds and environments. Most of these MQTLs were further validated using the data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Further, ten MQTLs, referred to as breeding-friendly MQTLs (BF-MQTLs), with a significant phenotypic variation explained over 10% and confidence interval less than 2 Mb, were shortlisted. BF-MQTLs were further used to identify potential candidate genes, including 59 genes encoding important proteins/products involved in essential metabolic pathways. Five BF-MQTLs associated with both quality and yield traits were also recommended to be utilized in future breeding programs. Synteny analysis with wheat and rice genomes revealed conserved regions across the genomes, indicating these hotspot regions as validated targets for developing biofortified, high-yielding maize varieties in future breeding programs. After validation, the identified candidate genes can also be utilized to effectively model the plant architecture and enhance desirable quality traits through various approaches such as marker-assisted breeding, genetic engineering, and genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Sethi
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Saini
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Veena Devi
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Charanjeet Kaur
- Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Mohini Prabha Singh
- Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Jasneet Singh
- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gomsie Pruthi
- Department of Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Amanpreet Kaur
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Alla Singh
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Dharam Paul Chaudhary
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
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Baisakh N, Da Silva EA, Pradhan AK, Rajasekaran K. Comprehensive meta-analysis of QTL and gene expression studies identify candidate genes associated with Aspergillus flavus resistance in maize. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1214907. [PMID: 37534296 PMCID: PMC10392829 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1214907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxin (AF) contamination, caused by Aspergillus flavus, compromises the food safety and marketability of commodities, such as maize, cotton, peanuts, and tree nuts. Multigenic inheritance of AF resistance impedes conventional introgression of resistance traits into high-yielding commercial maize varieties. Several AF resistance-associated quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and markers have been reported from multiple biparental mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in maize. However, QTLs with large confidence intervals (CI) explaining inconsistent phenotypic variance limit their use in marker-assisted selection. Meta-analysis of published QTLs can identify significant meta-QTLs (MQTLs) with a narrower CI for reliable identification of genes and linked markers for AF resistance. Using 276 out of 356 reported QTLs controlling resistance to A. flavus infection and AF contamination in maize, we identified 58 MQTLs on all 10 chromosomes with a 66.5% reduction in the average CI. Similarly, a meta-analysis of maize genes differentially expressed in response to (a)biotic stresses from the to-date published literature identified 591 genes putatively responding to only A. flavus infection, of which 14 were significantly differentially expressed (-1.0 ≤ Log2Fc ≥ 1.0; p ≤ 0.05). Eight MQTLs were validated by their colocalization with 14 A. flavus resistance-associated SNPs identified from GWAS in maize. A total of 15 genes were physically close between the MQTL intervals and SNPs. Assessment of 12 MQTL-linked SSR markers identified three markers that could discriminate 14 and eight cultivars with resistance and susceptible responses, respectively. A comprehensive meta-analysis of QTLs and differentially expressed genes led to the identification of genes and makers for their potential application in marker-assisted breeding of A. flavus-resistant maize varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niranjan Baisakh
- School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Eduardo A. Da Silva
- School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - Anjan K. Pradhan
- School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Kanniah Rajasekaran
- Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), New Orleans, LA, United States
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Karnatam KS, Chhabra G, Saini DK, Singh R, Kaur G, Praba UP, Kumar P, Goyal S, Sharma P, Ranjan R, Sandhu SK, Kumar R, Vikal Y. Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis of QTLs Associated with Root Traits and Implications for Maize Breeding. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076135. [PMID: 37047112 PMCID: PMC10093813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Root system architecture (RSA), also known as root morphology, is critical in plant acquisition of soil resources, plant growth, and yield formation. Many QTLs associated with RSA or root traits in maize have been identified using several bi-parental populations, particularly in response to various environmental factors. In the present study, a meta-analysis of QTLs associated with root traits was performed in maize using 917 QTLs retrieved from 43 mapping studies published from 1998 to 2020. A total of 631 QTLs were projected onto a consensus map involving 19,714 markers, which led to the prediction of 68 meta-QTLs (MQTLs). Among these 68 MQTLs, 36 MQTLs were validated with the marker-trait associations available from previous genome-wide association studies for root traits. The use of comparative genomics approaches revealed several gene models conserved among the maize, sorghum, and rice genomes. Among the conserved genomic regions, the ortho-MQTL analysis uncovered 20 maize MQTLs syntenic to 27 rice MQTLs for root traits. Functional analysis of some high-confidence MQTL regions revealed 442 gene models, which were then subjected to in silico expression analysis, yielding 235 gene models with significant expression in various tissues. Furthermore, 16 known genes viz., DXS2, PHT, RTP1, TUA4, YUC3, YUC6, RTCS1, NSA1, EIN2, NHX1, CPPS4, BIGE1, RCP1, SKUS13, YUC5, and AW330564 associated with various root traits were present within or near the MQTL regions. These results could aid in QTL cloning and pyramiding in developing new maize varieties with specific root architecture for proper plant growth and development under optimum and abiotic stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Sai Karnatam
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Gautam Chhabra
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Saini
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Rajveer Singh
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Gurwinder Kaur
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Umesh Preethi Praba
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Simran Goyal
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Priti Sharma
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Rumesh Ranjan
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Surinder K Sandhu
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Ramesh Kumar
- Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana 141001, India
| | - Yogesh Vikal
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141001, India
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Okunlola G, Badu-Apraku B, Ariyo O, Agre P, Offernedo Q, Ayo-Vaughan M. Genome-wide association studies of Striga resistance in extra-early maturing quality protein maize inbred lines. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkac237. [PMID: 36073937 PMCID: PMC9911053 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Identification of genes associated with Striga resistance is invaluable for accelerating genetic gains in breeding for Striga resistance in maize. We conducted a genome-wide association study to identify genomic regions associated with grain yield and other agronomic traits under artificial Striga field infestation. One hundred and forty-one extra-early quality protein maize inbred lines were phenotyped for key agronomic traits. The inbred lines were also genotyped using 49,185 DArTseq markers from which 8,143 were retained for population structure analysis and genome wide-association study. Cluster analysis and population structure revealed the presence of 3 well-defined genetic groups. Using the mixed linear model, 22 SNP markers were identified to be significantly associated with grain yield, Striga damage at 10 weeks after planting, number of emerged Striga plants at 8 and 10 weeks after planting and ear aspect. The identified SNP markers would be useful for breeders for marker-assisted selection to accelerate the genetic enhancement of maize for Striga resistance in sub-Saharan Africa after validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gbemisola Okunlola
- Maize Improvement Programme, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo ,5320, Nigeria
- Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 110124, Ogun, 2240, Nigeria
| | - Baffour Badu-Apraku
- Maize Improvement Programme, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo ,5320, Nigeria
| | - Omolayo Ariyo
- Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 110124, Ogun, 2240, Nigeria
| | - Paterne Agre
- Maize Improvement Programme, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo ,5320, Nigeria
| | - Queen Offernedo
- Maize Improvement Programme, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo ,5320, Nigeria
| | - Moninuola Ayo-Vaughan
- Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 110124, Ogun, 2240, Nigeria
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