Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genomic Region Associated with Mite-Recruitment Phenotypes in the Domesticated Grapevine (Vitis vinifera).

Erika R Laplante,Margaret B Fleming,Zoë Migicovsky,Marjorie Gail Weber

doi:10.3390/genes12071013

Erika R Laplante, Margaret B Fleming + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12071013

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Journal: Genes	Publication Date: Jun 30, 2021
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Michigan State University, Dalhousie University

Abstract

Indirect defenses are plant phenotypes that reduce damage by attracting natural enemies of plant pests and pathogens to leaves. Despite their economic and ecological importance, few studies have investigated the genetic underpinnings of indirect defense phenotypes. Here, we present a genome-wide association study of five phenotypes previously determined to increase populations of beneficial (fungivorous and predacious) mites on grape leaves (genus Vitis): leaf bristles, leaf hairs, and the size, density, and depth of leaf domatia. Using a common garden genetic panel of 399 V. vinifera cultivars, we tested for genetic associations of these phenotypes using previously obtained genotyping data from the Vitis9kSNP array. We found one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) significantly associated with domatia density. This SNP (Chr5:1160194) is near two genes of interest: Importin Alpha Isoform 1 (VIT_205s0077g01440), involved in downy mildew resistance, and GATA Transcription Factor 8 (VIT_205s0077g01450), involved in leaf shape development. Our findings are among the first to examine the genomic regions associated with ecologically important plant traits that facilitate interactions with beneficial mites, and suggest promising candidate genes for breeding and genetic editing to increase naturally occurring predator-based defenses in grapevines.

Highlights

IntroductionPlants have evolved a variety of phenotypes to defend themselves against herbivores and pathogens
Accepted: 28 June 2021Plants have evolved a variety of phenotypes to defend themselves against herbivores and pathogens
Our goal is to identify candidate genetic regions underlying key phenotypes that are tied to the recruitment and retention of beneficial mites on grapevine leaves, and to provide insight into the genetic control of mite defense mutualisms across plants more generally

Summary

Introduction

Plants have evolved a variety of phenotypes to defend themselves against herbivores and pathogens While many of these defensive traits act directly on pests to reduce plant damage (deemed “direct defenses”), other traits (deemed “indirect defenses”) provide defense by increasing populations of arthropods that benefit the plant by consuming or deterring herbivores or pathogens [1,2]. Despite their prevalence and known ecological importance, the genetic drivers and constraints of most indirect defense phenotypes remain poorly understood compared to the more thoroughly studied direct defense traits [3].

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