Abstract
BackgroundCalluna vulgaris is one of the most important landscaping plants produced in Germany. Its enormous economic success is due to the prolonged flower attractiveness of mutants in flower morphology, the so-called bud-bloomers. In this study, we present the first genetic linkage map of C. vulgaris in which we mapped a locus of the economically highly desired trait “flower type”.ResultsThe map was constructed in JoinMap 4.1. using 535 AFLP markers from a single mapping population. A large fraction (40%) of markers showed distorted segregation. To test the effect of segregation distortion on linkage estimation, these markers were sorted regarding their segregation ratio and added in groups to the data set. The plausibility of group formation was evaluated by comparison of the “two-way pseudo-testcross” and the “integrated” mapping approach. Furthermore, regression mapping was compared to the multipoint-likelihood algorithm. The majority of maps constructed by different combinations of these methods consisted of eight linkage groups corresponding to the chromosome number of C. vulgaris.ConclusionsAll maps confirmed the independent inheritance of the most important horticultural traits “flower type”, “flower colour”, and “leaf colour”. An AFLP marker for the most important breeding target “flower type” was identified. The presented genetic map of C. vulgaris can now serve as a basis for further molecular marker selection and map-based cloning of the candidate gene encoding the unique flower architecture of C. vulgaris bud-bloomers.
Highlights
Calluna vulgaris is one of the most important landscaping plants produced in Germany
In summary, in the present study on mapping AFLP markers in C. vulgaris, we prefer the “integrated” mapping approach compared to the PTC approach, since it incorporates more loci which makes estimation of linkage groups more reliable
regression mapping algorithm (RG) mapping was superior to maximum likelihood (ML) mapping due to the increase of map length using the ML algorithm; benefits of the ML algorithm could not be realised due to the quality of the marker data
Summary
Calluna vulgaris is one of the most important landscaping plants produced in Germany. Its enormous economic success is due to the prolonged flower attractiveness of mutants in flower morphology, the so-called bud-bloomers. We present the first genetic linkage map of C. vulgaris in which we mapped a locus of the economically highly desired trait “flower type”. Calluna vulgaris is a woody landscaping plant from the Ericales order with rising economic importance in Northern Europe. Germany is a major producing and exporting country. In 2010, 110 million plants of C. vulgaris have been produced in Germany [1]. Bud-bloomers make up the major market share of C. vulgaris compared to cultivars with wild-type and filled flowers because of their delayed flower senescence.
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