Abstract
Wolfberry (Lycium Linn. 2n = 24) fruit, Gouqizi, is a perennial shrub, traditional food and medicinal plant resource in China. Leaf and fruit related characteristics are economically important traits that are the focus for genetic improvement, but few studies into the molecular genetics of this crop have been reported to date. Here, an F1 population (302 individuals) derived from a cross between “NO.1 Ningqi” (Lycium barbarum L.) and “Chinese gouqi” (Lycium chinese Mill.) was constructed. We recorded fruit weight, longitude, diameter and index along with leaf length, width and index for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017. Based on this population and these phenotypic data, we constructed the first high-density genetic map of Lycium using specific length amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) and analyzed quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The map contains 6733 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 12 linkage groups (LG) with a total map distance of 1702.45 cM and an average map distance of 0.253 cM. A total of 55 QTLs were mapped for more than 2 years, of which 18 stable QTLs for fruit index on LG 11, spanning an interval of 73.492–90.945 cM, were detected. qFI11-15 for fruit index was an impressive QTL with logarithm of odds (LOD) and proportion of variance explained (PEV) values reaching 11.07 and 19.7%, respectively. The QTLs on LG 11 were gathered tightly, having an average interval of less than 1 cM per QTL, suggesting that there might be a cluster region controlling fruit index. Remarkably, qLI10-2 and qLI11-2 for leaf index were detectable for 3 years. These results give novel insight into the genetic control of leaf and fruit related traits in Lycium and provide robust support for undertaking further positional cloning studies and implementing marker-assisted selection in seedlings.
Highlights
Wolfberry (Lycium Linn. 2n = 24) is an important plant resource for both food and medicine in China and has been cultivated for more than 500 years in Ningxia (Yao et al, 2018a)
The purpose of this study was to construct a high density genetic map and determine the genetic characteristics of leafand fruit-related traits using nextgeneration sequencing (NGS) technology and population genetics methods, and next to enable the identification of the corresponding QTLs and potential molecular markers tightly linked with good traits
All leaf related agronomic traits were evaluated for three continuous years from 2015 to 2017 and fruit related traits were evaluated for two continuous years from 2016 to 2017
Summary
Gouqizi, has been used for centuries in traditional herbal medicines and nourishing tonics. Genetic Map of Lycium (National Pharmacopoeia Committee, 2015; Chen et al, 2018). This valuable fruit is exported world-wide to consumers who have become increasingly accustomed to its taste and efficacy (Li and Jiang, 2014). Wolfberry shrubs are fast-growing with well-developed deep root systems and extensive adaptability to drought and cold. It is a pioneer species mainly planted in salty and alkaline areas in Northwest China (Liu Y. et al, 2018; Zhao et al, 2018)
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