Genomic Position and Markers Associated with the Hull-Less Seed Trait in Pumpkin

Plants

Vincent Njung’e Michael¹  Swati Shrestha¹  Marie Dorval¹  Riphine Mainviel¹  Geoffrey Meru¹  Yuqing Fu¹ 

[1] The Tropical Research and Education Center, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 ST Homestead, Gainesville, FL 33031, USA;

关键词: QTL-seq;    breeding;    quantitative trait loci;    marker-assisted selection;    whole genome resequencing;    Cucurbita pepo;   

DOI  :  10.3390/plants11091238

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seeds are nutritious and valued as a source of vegetable oil, protein, healthy fatty acids, and minerals. Pumpkin seeds that are naturally devoid of the seedcoat (hull-less) are preferred by the industry as they eliminate the need for de-hulling prior to use. A single recessive gene, designated as n or h, controls the hull-less seed trait in pumpkin. Visual selection for the trait is easy, however, it is resource intensive when applied to large breeding populations. High throughput genotyping assays can aid in the identification of suitable individuals in segregating populations through marker-assisted selection. In the current study, the QTL-seq approach was used to identify genetic loci, SNP markers and candidate genes associated with the hull-less trait in a segregating F₂ population (n = 143) derived from a cross between Kakai (hull-less) × Table Gold Acorn (hulled). The segregation of the hull-less trait in the F₂ population fit a 3:1 ratio (p < 0.05). QTL-seq analysis detected a single QTL on chromosome 12 (Qtlhull-less-C12) which was significantly associated with the hull-less trait in C. pepo. Twenty-eight SNPs were genotyped in the population, two among which (Ch12_3412046 and Ch12_3417142) were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the hull-less trait in cultivars and accessions of diverse genetic background. Several candidate genes fall within the Qtlhull-less-C12 interval, among them is the No Apical meristem (NAC) domain-containing protein and a Fiber Protein fb11 gene involved in lignin accumulation and cell wall deposition across plant species, respectively. The findings of this study will facilitate the marker-assisted selection for the hull-less seed trait in pumpkin and further our understanding of the functional mechanisms underlying the trait across cucurbit crops.

【 授权许可】

Unknown