Abstract
Biomass allocation plays a critical role in plant morphological formation and phenotypic plasticity, which greatly impact plant adaptability and competitiveness. While empirical studies on plant biomass allocation have focused on molecular biology and ecology approaches, detailed insight into the genetic basis of biomass allocation between leaf and stem growth is still lacking. Herein, we constructed a bivariate mapping model to identify covariation QTLs governing carbon (C) allocation between the leaves and stem as well as the covariation of traits within and between organs in a full-sib mapping population of C. bungei. A total of 123 covQTLs were detected for 23 trait pairs, including six leaf traits (leaf length, width, area, perimeter, length/width ratio and petiole length) and five stem traits (height, diameter at breast height, wood density, stemwood volume and stemwood biomass). The candidate genes were further identified in tissue-specific gene expression data, which provided insights into the genetic architecture underlying C allocation for traits or organs. The key QTLs related to growth and biomass allocation, which included UVH1, CLPT2, GAD/SPL, COG1 and MTERF4, were characterised and verified via gene function annotation and expression profiling. The integration of a bivariate Quantitative trait locus mapping model and gene expression profiling will enable the elucidation of genetic architecture underlying biomass allocation and covariation growth, in turn providing a theoretical basis for forest molecular marker-assisted breeding with specific C allocation strategies for adaptation to heterogeneous environments.
Highlights
Plants are organised into various organs that have distinct functional divisions and carry out continuous material exchange
The coordinated growth and biomass allocation among organs determine their adaptability to the environment, which is of major significance to the economic, ecological and social aspects of plant cultivation (Ambrose et al, 2009; Zhang and Xi, 2021)
Based on the F1 population of the woody plant C. bungei, different trade-off patterns were observed for various trait pairs (Figures 1, 2)
Summary
Plants are organised into various organs that have distinct functional divisions and carry out continuous material exchange. Plant stems play key roles in nutrients and water transport, while providing physical support (Niinemets, 2007; Brienen et al, 2017). The translocation of carbohydrates from the photosynthesising “source” leaves provide substrates required for the growth of non-photosynthesising “sink” organs. The plant architecture determined by stems and branches is closely associated with foliage photosynthetic efficiency, cultivation, yield, light assimilation and harvesting. Biomass allocation represents a hot topic in the fields of plant molecular biology, evolutionary genetics and ecology (Weraduwage et al, 2015; Berny Mier et al, 2019; Lauri, 2019). Little is known regarding the genetic basis, which governs the interaction and coordination of leaf and stem growth in plants, especially in forest trees
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
