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LeafJ: An ImageJ Plugin for Semi-automated Leaf Shape Measurement
Published on: January 21, 2013
29.6K
Modeling development and quantitative trait mapping reveal independent genetic modules for leaf size and shape
Robert L Baker1, Wen Fung Leong2, Marcus T Brock1
1Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA.
The New Phytologist
|June 18, 2015
Summary
Understanding plant growth curves reveals genetic controls for improved crop yield. Analyzing leaf shape as a function-valued trait (FVT) identified independent genetic modules for optimization.
Area of Science:
- Plant genetics and genomics
- Developmental biology
- Quantitative genetics
Background:
- Organismal ontogeny and growth curves are crucial for predicting fitness and yield.
- Single-time-point (STP) analyses may miss genetic controls due to identical final measurements from varied growth trajectories.
- Characterizing dynamic growth processes offers deeper insights than static measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model leaf growth and allometry as function-valued traits (FVT) in Brassica rapa.
- To investigate genetic correlations between FVTs and phenology, physiology, circadian rhythms, and fitness.
- To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for leaf growth and shape dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Measured leaf lengths and widths in Brassica rapa recombinant inbred lines (RILs) over time.
- Modeled leaf growth and allometry as function-valued traits (FVT).
- Utilized RNA-seq for SNP linkage map construction and QTL mapping.
Main Results:
- Discovered genetic trade-offs between leaf size and growth rate FVTs.
- Observed differences in genotypic and QTL correlations between FVTs and STPs.
- Identified leaf shape (allometry) as a genetically independent module from leaf size and growth rate.
- Found evidence of selection on FVT parameters of development.
- Linked leaf shape to venation features influencing desiccation resistance.
Conclusions:
- Leaf shape is a distinct genetic module, separable from leaf size and growth rate.
- Optimizing leaf shape may enhance crop traits like desiccation resistance without negatively impacting size, growth rate, or gas exchange.
- Dynamic growth modeling (FVT) provides a more comprehensive understanding of genetic controls than STP analyses.
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