Construction of a high-density linkage map for bronze loquat using RAD-Seq

Abstract

We constructed a high-density genetic linkage map of bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa) for a three-way cross of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) × (loquat × bronze loquat) by using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated by RAD-Seq, with the combination of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, which have been used in the previous study. The map of bronze loquat (‘Taiwan loquat No. 1’) consisted of 960 loci including 793 SNPs, 166 SSRs (98 apple, 8 loquat and 60 pear SSRs), and the loquat canker resistance gene Pse-a. This map covered 17 linkage groups over a total length of 1707.4 cM with an average distance of 1.78 cM between markers. The number of linkage groups corresponded to the basic chromosome number (n = 17). The analysis of the markers that can be anchored to apple draft genome showed that almost all loquat linkage groups were aligned to the apple draft genome. The constructed map will enable us to determine the location of quantitative trait loci and genes of interest, and to analyze genome synteny in the tribe Pyreae, subfamily Spiraeoideae of the family Rosaceae.