Genetic Dissection of Bloom Time in Low Chilling Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Using a Multi-Family QTL Approach

Publication Overview
TitleGenetic Dissection of Bloom Time in Low Chilling Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Using a Multi-Family QTL Approach
AuthorsCalle Alejandro, Cai Lichun, Iezzoni Amy, Wünsch Ana.
TypeJournal Article
Journal NameFrontiers in Plant Science
Volume10
Year2020
Page(s)1647
CitationCalle Alejandro, Cai Lichun, Iezzoni Amy, Wünsch Ana. Genetic Dissection of Bloom Time in Low Chilling Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Using a Multi-Family QTL Approach. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2020. 10:1647. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01647

Abstract

Bloom time in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly heritable trait that varies between genotypes and depends on the environmental conditions. Bud-break occurs after chill and heat requirements of each genotype are fulfilled, and dormancy is released. Bloom time is a critical trait for fruit production as matching cultivar adaptation to the growing area is essential for adequate fruit set. Additionally, low chilling cultivars are of interest to extend sweet cherry production to warmer regions, and for the crop adaptation to increasing winter and spring temperatures. The aim of this work is to investigate the genetic control of this trait by analyzing multiple families derived from the low chilling and extra-early flowering local Spanish cultivar ‘Cristobalina’ and other cultivars with higher chilling requirements and medium to late bloom times. Bloom time evaluation in six related sweet cherry populations confirmed a high heritability of this trait, and skewed distribution toward late flowering, revealing possible dominance of the late bloom alleles. SNP genotyping of the six populations (n = 406) resulted in a consensus map of 1269 SNPs. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis using the Bayesian approach implemented by FlexQTL™ software revealed two major QTLs on linkage groups 1 and 2 (qP-BT1.1m and qP-BT2.1m) that explained 47.6% of the phenotypic variation. The QTL on linkage group 1 was mapped to a 0.26 Mbp region that overlaps with the DORMANCY ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM) genes. This finding is consistent with peach results that indicate that these genes are major determinants of chilling requirement in Prunus. Haplotype analysis of the linkage group 1 and 2 QTL regions showed that ‘Cristobalina’ was the only cultivar tested that contributed early bloom time alleles for these two QTLs. This work contributes to knowledge of the genetic control of chilling requirement and bloom date and will enable marker-assisted selection for low chilling in sweet cherry breeding programs.
Features
This publication contains information about 16 features:
Feature NameUniquenameType
flower date 50%qBT-ch1.1-2015QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch2.1-2015QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch1.1-2016QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch2.1-2016QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch7.1-2016QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch1.1-2017QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch2.1-2017QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch4.2-2017QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch5.1-2017QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch7.1-2017QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch1.2-2018QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch1.1-2018QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch2.1-2018QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch4.2-2018QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch5.1-2018QTL
flower date 50%qBT-ch7.1-2018QTL
Projects
This publication contains information about 1 projects:
Project NameDescription
Sweet Cherry-BloomTime-Calle-2020
Featuremaps
This publication contains information about 1 maps:
Map Name
Sweet Cherry-VxC-F1
Stocks
This publication contains information about 12 stocks:
Stock NameUniquenameType
Vic_x_CristobalinaVic_x_Cristobalinapopulation
LxCLambert_x_Cristobalinapopulation
BxCBrooks_x_Cristobalinapopulation
AxCAmbrunes_x_Cristobalinapopulation
BC2BC8 self-pollinationpopulation
Cristobalina_x_CristobalinaCristobalina_x_Cristobalinapopulation
VicVicaccession
LambertLambertaccession
BrooksBrooksaccession
AmbrunesAmbrunesaccession
BC8BC8accession
CristobalinaCristobalinaaccession