Abstract
Jatropha curcas is a potential plant species for biodiesel production. However, its seed yield is too low for profitable production of biodiesel. To improve the productivity, genetic improvement through breeding is essential. A linkage map is an important component in molecular breeding. We established a first-generation linkage map using a mapping panel containing two backcross populations with 93 progeny. We mapped 506 markers (216 microsatellites and 290 SNPs from ESTs) onto 11 linkage groups. The total length of the map was 1440.9 cM with an average marker space of 2.8 cM. Blasting of 222 Jatropha ESTs containing polymorphic SSR or SNP markers against EST-databases revealed that 91.0%, 86.5% and 79.2% of Jatropha ESTs were homologous to counterparts in castor bean, poplar and Arabidopsis respectively. Mapping 192 orthologous markers to the assembled whole genome sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana identified 38 syntenic blocks and revealed that small linkage blocks were well conserved, but often shuffled. The first generation linkage map and the data of comparative mapping could lay a solid foundation for QTL mapping of agronomic traits, marker-assisted breeding and cloning genes responsible for phenotypic variation.
Highlights
The increasing demand for diesel coupled with continuous rise in price of crude oil has forced us to search for an ecologically sustainable alternative energy source [1]
Mapping populations and DNA isolation Two J. curcas individuals PZM16 and ZS-2 were selected as female parents, which were crossed to an individual Jatropha integerrima S001 as male parent
From two partial genomic DNA libraries enriched for CA and GA repeats, 4000 clones were sequenced in both directions
Summary
The increasing demand for diesel coupled with continuous rise in price of crude oil has forced us to search for an ecologically sustainable alternative energy source [1]. Jatropha curcas L, called Physic nut, is a perennial poisonous shrub belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family [2]. This plant originating from Central America has been spread to other tropical and subtropical countries and is mainly grown in Asia and Africa. 30% oil that is usable in a standard diesel engine [5], J. curcas is regarded as a promising candidate for producing biodiesel [1,6]. J. curcas has been an uncultivated wild-species, and until recently little is known about its genetics and genome. To make the production of J. curcas profitable and sustainable, genetic improvement of oil yield and quality, as well as diseases and pests resistance is demanded
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