Development of first linkage map for Silphium integrifolium (Asteraceae) enables identification of sporophytic...

Silphium integrifolium (Asteraceae) has been identified as a candidate for domestication as a perennial oilseed crop and is assumed to have sporophytic self-incompatibility system-the genetic basis of which is not well understood in the Asteraceae. To address this gap, we sought to map the genomic location of the self-recognition locus (S-locus) in this species. We used a biparental population and genotyping-by-sequencing to create the first genetic linkage map for this species, which contained 198 SNP markers and resolved into the correct number of linkage groups. Then we developed a novel crossing scheme and set of analysis methods in order to infer S-locus genotypes for a subset of these individuals, allowing us to map the trait. Finally, we evaluated potential genes of interest using synteny analysis with the annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) genomes. Our results confirm that S. integrifolium does indeed have a sporophytic self-incompatibility system. Our method is effective and efficient, allowed us to map the S. integrifolium S-locus using fewer resources than existing methods, and could be readily applied to other species.