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Multi-population QTL detection for aerial morphogenetic traits in the model legume Medicago truncatula

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Abstract

Medicago truncatula, as a model species, is useful to study the genetic control of traits of agronomic interest in legumes species. Aerial morphogenesis is a key component of forage and seed yield. It was measured in four mapping populations originating from five parental lines. Single and multi-population quantitative trait locus (QTL) detections were carried out. A large variation was observed within populations and transgressive segregation was noted. Most traits showed high heritabilities in all seasons. Length of primary branches (LPB, cm) was positively correlated to branch elongation rate (BER, cm day−1) and aerial dry matter (ADM, g). Flowering time (FT, °C day−1) showed negative correlations with length of main stem (LMS, cm) and BER. One hundred and forty-one QTLs for BER, LMS, FT, LPB, diameter of primary branches (DPB), number of primary branches (NPB), number of nodes (NI) and ADM were identified and localized over all eight chromosomes. Single and multi-population analyses showed that the most important regions for aerial morphogenetic traits were chromosomes 1, 2, 7 and 8. Multi-population analysis revealed three regions of major QTLs affecting aerial morphogenetic traits (LPB, LMS, NPB, BER and FT). A region involved in flowering time variation was revealed on chromosome 6 on a single population. These results were used to identify candidate genes that could control variation for aerial morphogenesis traits in this species and in related crop legume species.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to our colleagues involved in glasshouse experiments (Joël Jousse, Jean-François Bourcier and Franck Gelin) and molecular analysis (Michèle Gherardi). L.C. Lagunes Espinoza thanks Campus Tabasco of Colegio de Postgraduados (Mexico) for permission to perform the research stay and Region Poitou–Charentes for the post-doctoral grant. We thank J.M Prosperi (INRA, Montpellier) for providing LR1, LR4 and LR5 populations, Brigitte Mangin (INRA, UBIA, Toulouse) for helpful advice on MCQTL, Philippe Barre and Laurence Pauly for fruitful discussion on QTL detection, and Jérôme Gouzy (INRA, LIPM, Toulouse) for assistance on http://www.legoo.org. We thank Alon Samach (University of Jerusalem, Israel) for providing seeds of Levahim-B and Meiron lines.

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  1. Luz del Carmen Lagunes Espinoza

    Present address: Colegio de Postgraduados (COLPOS), Campus Tabasco, Periférico Carlos A. Molina s/n, 86500, Cárdenas, Tabasco, Mexico

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, UR 4, Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Prairies et Plantes Fourragères, Le Chêne, RD 150, BP 80006, 86600, Lusignan, France

    Luz del Carmen Lagunes Espinoza & Bernadette Julier

  2. UMR5245 EcoLab (Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), ENSAT, Université de Toulouse; INP, UPS, 18 chemin de Borderouge, 31326, Castanet Tolosan, France

    Thierry Huguet

  3. EcoLab, CNRS, 31326, Castanet Tolosan, France

    Thierry Huguet

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  1. Luz del Carmen Lagunes Espinoza
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  2. Thierry Huguet
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  3. Bernadette Julier
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Correspondence to Bernadette Julier.

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Communicated by C. Hackett.

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Lagunes Espinoza, L.d.C., Huguet, T. & Julier, B. Multi-population QTL detection for aerial morphogenetic traits in the model legume Medicago truncatula . Theor Appl Genet 124, 739–754 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-011-1743-0

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