Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of wood quality traits in Eucalyptus nitens

• Published in: Tree genetics & genomes Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 305 - 317
• Main Authors: Thumma, Bala R, Southerton, Simon G, Bell, John C, Owen, John V, Henery, Martin L, Moran, Gavin F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01-02-2010; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Cellulose; Forestry; Gene mapping; Genes; Genomes; Life Sciences; Lignin; Original Paper; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Polymorphism; Spectrum analysis; Tree Biology; Trees; Wood; Australia; Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia; New South Wales Australia; Comparative mapping; Candidate genes; Single nucleotide polymorphism
• ISSN: 1614-2942; 1614-2950
• DOI: 10.1007/s11295-009-0250-9

To identify the chromosomal regions affecting wood quality traits, we conducted a genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of wood quality traits in Eucalyptus nitens. This information is important to exploit the full potential of the impending Eucalyptus genome sequence. A three generational mapping population consisting of 296 progeny trees was used to identify QTL associated with several wood quality traits in E. nitens. Thirty-six QTL positions for cellulose content, pulp yield, lignin content, density, and microfibril angle (MFA) were identified across different linkage groups. On linkage groups (LG)2 and 8, cellulose QTL cluster with pulp yield and extractives QTL while on LG4 and 10 cellulose and pulp yield QTLs cluster together. Similarly, on LG4, 5, and 6 QTL for lignin traits were clustered together. At two positions, QTL for MFA, a physical trait related to wood stiffness, were clustered with QTL for lignin traits. Several cell wall candidate genes were co-located to QTL positions affecting different traits. Comparative QTL analysis with Eucalyptus globulus revealed two common QTL regions for cellulose and pulp yield. The QTL positions identified in this study provide a resource for identifying wood quality genes using the impending Eucalyptus genome sequence. Candidate genes identified in this study through co-location to QTL regions may be useful in association studies.