A high-density genetic map and QTL analysis of agronomic traits in foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] using RAD-seq

PLoS One. 2017 Jun 23;12(6):e0179717. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179717. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a very important grain crop in China, has become a new model plant for cereal crops and biofuel grasses. Although its reference genome sequence was released recently, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling complex agronomic traits remains limited. The development of massively parallel genotyping methods and next-generation sequencing technologies provides an excellent opportunity for developing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for linkage map construction and QTL analysis of complex quantitative traits. In this study, a high-throughput and cost-effective RAD-seq approach was employed to generate a high-density genetic map for foxtail millet. A total of 2,668,587 SNP loci were detected according to the reference genome sequence; meanwhile, 9,968 SNP markers were used to genotype 124 F2 progenies derived from the cross between Hongmiaozhangu and Changnong35; a high-density genetic map spanning 1648.8 cM, with an average distance of 0.17 cM between adjacent markers was constructed; 11 major QTLs for eight agronomic traits were identified; five co-dominant DNA markers were developed. These findings will be of value for the identification of candidate genes and marker-assisted selection in foxtail millet.

MeSH terms

  • Chromosome Mapping / methods*
  • Chromosomes, Plant
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Genetic Markers
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing*
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Quantitative Trait Loci*
  • Setaria Plant / genetics*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Science and Technology Independent Innovation Ability Upgrading Project of Shanxi Province Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2015ZZCX-09, 2016ZZCX-09), Shanxi Province Youth Fund (2015021143), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Research Project of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZDSYS1504), and the Chinese Agricultural Research System (CRRS-07).