Journal
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
Volume 13, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.996672
Keywords
alfalfa; biomass yield; Feed Quality; drought; linkage mapping; RNA-Seq
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Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [32071868]
- earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System [CARS-35-04]
- key research project of Ningxia province for alfalfa breeding program [2019NYY203]
- Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program [ASTIP-IAS14]
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In this study, significant QTLs related to biomass yield and feed quality in alfalfa were identified using linkage mapping. Candidate genes controlling drought tolerance were also identified through RNA-seq analysis. The results of this study are important for improving drought tolerance in alfalfa and further gene research.
Biomass yield and Feed Quality are the most important traits in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), which directly affect its economic value. Drought stress is one of the main limiting factors affecting alfalfa production worldwide. However, the genetic and especially the molecular mechanisms for drought tolerance in alfalfa are poorly understood. In this study, linkage mapping was performed in an F1 population by combining 12 phenotypic data (biomass yield, plant height, and 10 Feed Quality-related traits). A total of 48 significant QTLs were identified on the high-density genetic linkage maps that were constructed in our previous study. Among them, nine main QTLs, which explained more than 10% phenotypic variance, were detected for biomass yield (one), plant height (one), CP (two), ASH (one), P (two), K(one), and Mg (one). A total of 31 candidate genes were identified in the nine main QTL intervals based on the RNA-seq analysis under the drought condition. Blast-P was further performed to screen candidate genes controlling drought tolerance, and 22 functional protein candidates were finally identified. The results of the present study will be useful for improving drought tolerance of alfalfa varieties by marker-assisted selection (MAS), and provide promising candidates for further gene cloning and mechanism study.
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