Exploration into Natural Variation Genes Associated with Determinate and Capitulum-like Inflorescence in Brassica napus.

Brassica napus is a globally important vegetable and oil crop. The research is meaningful for the yield and plant architecture of B. napus. In this study, one natural mutant line with determinate and capitulum-like inflorescence was chosen for further study. Genetic analysis indicated that the segregation patterns of inflorescences in the F2 populations supported a digenic inheritance model, which was further approved via the BSA-Seq technique. The BSA-Seq method detected two QTL regions on C02 (14.27-18.41 Mb) and C06 (32.98-33.68 Mb) for the genetic control of determinate inflorescences in MT plants. In addition, the expression profile in MT compared with WT was analyzed, and a total of 133 candidate genes for regulating the flower development (75 genes, 56.4%), shoot meristem development (29 genes, 21.8%), and inflorescence meristem development (13 genes, 9.8%) were identified. Then one joint analysis combing BSA-Seq and RNA-Seq identified two candidate genes of BnaTFL1 and BnaAP1 for regulating the MT phenotype. Furthermore, the potential utilization of the MT plants was also discussed.

Genome-Wide Association Analysis Combined With Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping and Dynamic Transcriptome Unveil the Genetic Control of Seed Oil Content in Brassica napus L.

Rapeseed, an allotetraploid oil crop, provides vegetable oil for human consumption. The growing demand for oilseeds has necessitated the development of rapeseed varieties with improved quality. Therefore, a clear understanding of the genetic basis underlying the seed oil content (SOC) is required. In this study, a natural population comprising 204 diverse accessions and recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from Brassica napus and Sinapis alba via distant hybridization were collected for genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of the SOC trait, respectively. The variable coefficient of the RIL and natural populations ranged from 7.43 to 10.43% and 8.40 to 10.91%. Then, a high-density linkage map was constructed based on whole genome re-sequencing (WGS); the map harbored 2,799 bin markers and covered a total distance of 1,835.21 cM, with an average marker interval of 0.66 cM. The QTLs for SOC on chromosome A07 were stably detected in both single and multiple environments. Finally, a novel locus qA07.SOC was identified as the major QTL for SOC based on the GWAS and RIL populations. In addition, the RNA-seq results showed that photosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis proteins, fatty acid metabolism, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis were significantly different between the developed seeds of the two parents of the RIL population. By comparing the variation information and expression levels of the syntenic genes within qA07.SOC and its syntenic genomic regions, as well as through haplotype analysis via GWAS, BnaA07.STR18, BnaA07.NRT1, and BnaA07g12880D were predicted as candidate genes in the qA07.SOC interval. These stable QTLs containing candidate genes and haplotypes can potentially provide a reliable basis for marker-assisted selection in B. napus breeding for SOC.

A recessive high-density pod mutant resource of Brassica napus.

In Brassica napus, pod number and pod density are critical factors to determine seed yield. Although the pod density is an essential yield trait, the regulation of yield formation in oil crops, as well as the genetic and molecular mechanisms, are poorly understood. In this study, we characterized a rapeseed high-density pod mutant (dpt247) from composite hybridization. To shed some light on the nature of this mutation, it was investigated morphologically, anatomically, physiologically, genetically and transcriptomically. The mutant plant showed noticeable phenotypic differences in comparison with the control plant, including reduced plant height and primary branch length, decreased number of primary branches, significantly increased number of pod on the main inflorescence, and more compact pod distribution. Besides, the mutant had higher levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin riboside (ZR) in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). The dense pod trait was controlled by two major recessive genes identified in the segregating genetic populations of GRE501 and dpt247. RNA sequencing indicated genes participated in auxin, cytokinin and WUS/CLV signalling pathway in dpt247 were more active in the mutant. These results provide important information for understanding the regulation of yield formation and high yield breeding in rapeseed.

Genetic analysis for anthocyanin and chlorophyll contents in rapeseed / Análise genética para antocianinas e de clorofila em sementes de colza

ABSTRACT: Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) with purple-red leaf is a valuable resource for plant breeder. It was utilized in breeding program as a morphological marker, and the source of resistance gene to biotic or abiotic stress due to its anthocyanin content (AC). However, the inheritance of AC and the correlation with chlorophyll content (CC) in rapeseed leaf are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the gene action and heritability of AC and CC in a 10-Zi006 × 10-4438 rapeseed cross using generation mean analysis. The results indicated that AC and CC were controlled by main gene effect and non-allelic interactions. The AC was mainly controlled by genetic effect. However, the genetic effect and non-genetic effect were both important for CC. In addition, the total fixable gene effects was higher than unfixable gene effects for AC, but opposite results was found for CC. Both negative and positive correlations between AC and CC were obtained in different generations.

RESUMO: Colza (Brassica napus L.) de folhas vermelho-púrpura é um recurso valioso para os produtores. Foi utilizada em programas de melhoramento como um marcador morfológico ao gene de resistência a estresses abióticos, bióticos ou devido ao seu teor de antocianinas (AC). No entanto, a herança da AC e a correlação com o teor de clorofila (CC) na folha de colza ainda são desconhecidos. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a ação dos genes e hereditariedade da CA e CC em 10 Zi006 × 10-4438 colza, usando geração de análise. Os resultados indicaram que CA e CC foram controladas por efeito do gene principal e interacções não-alélicas. O AC foi controlado principalmente por efeito genético. No entanto, os efeitos genético e não genético foram ambos importantes para CC. Além disso, o total de efeitos gênicos solucionáveis foi maior do que os efeitos de genes para AC, mas os resultados opostos foram encontrados para CC. Correlações negativas e positivas entre CA e CC foram obtidas em diferentes gerações.