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Time-specific and pleiotropic quantitative trait loci coordinately modulate stem growth in Populus
Qingzhang Du1,2,3, Xiaohui Yang1,2,3, Jianbo Xie1,2,3
1Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Plant Biotechnology Journal
|August 23, 2018
Summary
Understanding tree growth variation is key for improving competitiveness. This study identifies genetic factors influencing stem height and diameter in Populus, revealing time-specific gene effects crucial for breeding better trees.
Area of Science:
- Plant genetics and genomics
- Quantitative trait genetics in woody plants
Background:
- Coordinated stem height and diameter growth in juvenile trees enhances light competition.
- Genetic factors controlling variation in tree stem growth during the juvenile phase are largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To decipher the genetic architecture of juvenile stem growth traits in Populus.
- To identify specific genes and genetic variations influencing stem growth dynamics over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized linkage-linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping with two distinct Populus populations (linkage and association mapping panels).
- Mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) across 12 timepoints and identified significant SNPs within segmental homology regions (SHRs).
- Analyzed gene expression profiles and signatures of selection in relation to identified genetic variants.
Main Results:
- Mapped 311 QTL for three growth traits to 42 regions, with 28 regions (233 QTL) identified as SHRs.
- Identified significant SNPs within SHRs affecting stem growth across nine timepoints, demonstrating complex additive, dominance, and epistatic patterns.
- Discovered 19 genes linked to potential causative alleles with time-specific or pleiotropic effects, overlapping with selection signatures.
Conclusions:
- The genetic basis of complex tree growth traits is temporally dynamic and influenced by pleiotropic and time-specific gene actions.
- Identified genes with species-specific temporal expression patterns highlight their role in juvenile stem development.
- Findings provide a foundation for the molecular design of improved tree ideotypes by considering the temporal genetic architecture of growth.
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