EcoTILLING in Beta vulgaris reveals polymorphisms in the FLC-like gene BvFL1that are associated with annuality and winter hardiness

Sebastian Lm Frerichmann,Martin Kirchhoff,Axel J Scheidig,Andreas E Müller,Christian Jung,Friedrich J Kopisch-Obuch

doi:10.1186/1471-2229-13-52

Abstract

BackgroundSugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris L.) is an important crop for sugar and biomass production in temperate climate regions. Currently sugar beets are sown in spring and harvested in autumn. Autumn-sown sugar beets that are grown for a full year have been regarded as a cropping system to increase the productivity of sugar beet cultivation. However, for the development of these “winter beets” sufficient winter hardiness and a system for bolting control is needed. Both require a thorough understanding of the underlying genetics and its natural variation.ResultsWe screened a diversity panel of 268 B. vulgaris accessions for three flowering time genes via EcoTILLING. This panel had been tested in the field for bolting behaviour and winter hardiness. EcoTILLING identified 20 silent SNPs and one non-synonymous SNP within the genes BTC1, BvFL1 and BvFT1, resulting in 55 haplotypes. Further, we detected associations of nucleotide polymorphisms in BvFL1 with bolting before winter as well as winter hardiness.ConclusionsThese data provide the first genetic indication for the function of the FLC homolog BvFL1 in beet. Further, it demonstrates for the first time that EcoTILLING is a powerful method for exploring genetic diversity and allele mining in B. vulgaris.

Highlights

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris L.) is an important crop for sugar and biomass production in temperate climate regions
Phenotyping and model-based analyses of population structure In fall 2009, 41 out of the 268 accessions sown in the field in July or August at four different locations, had at least one plant which had started bolting before the first frost
The largest variation for survival rate was found in B. vulgaris ssp. maritima followed by leaf beets, whereas sugar beets showed the smallest variation

Summary

Introduction

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris L.) is an important crop for sugar and biomass production in temperate climate regions. For the development of these “winter beets” sufficient winter hardiness and a system for bolting control is needed Both require a thorough understanding of the underlying genetics and its natural variation. (various banana species) [3], Populus trichocarpa (black cottonwood) [4], Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) [5], and Vigna radiata (mung bean) [6]. It has been used for candidate gene-based detection of new alleles conferring resistance to biotic and abiotic stress in Hordeum vulgare (barley) [7], Oryza sativa (rice) [8,9], Solanum tuberosum (potato) [10]. EcoTILLING has not been reported for sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris L.) which contributes to 22% of the world production of white sugar [13]

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