Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Leaf Morphology Indicates Conserved Shape Loci in Grapevine

Area of Science:

• Plant genetics
• Computational biology
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Leaf shape is crucial for grapevine water use, canopy structure, and stress tolerance, impacting cultivation sustainability.
• Traditional ampelography for grapevine identification has limitations; advanced quantitative methods are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the genetic architecture controlling grapevine leaf shape.
• To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with leaf morphology variation.

Main Methods:

• Digital reconstruction of grapevine leaves using a 17-point landmark survey and generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA).
• Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses including finite trait QTL, principal component analysis (PCA), and multivariate least squares interval mapping (MLSIM).

Main Results:

• Identified 271 significant QTL associated with grapevine leaf shape across three analytical approaches.
• Pinpointed specific QTL hotspots in the grape genome that significantly influence leaf morphology.
• Demonstrated the utility of advanced geometric morphometrics and QTL mapping for dissecting complex traits.

Conclusions:

• Advanced quantitative methods provide a powerful framework for understanding the genetic basis of grapevine leaf shape.
• The identified QTL hotspots offer targets for marker-assisted selection in grapevine breeding programs.
• This research contributes to developing more resilient and sustainable grapevine cultivars.