Abstract
Anthcyanins determine the colors of flowers, fruits, and purple vegetables and act as important health-promoting antioxidants. BT 126 represents a broccoli variety with a high content of anthocyanins (5.72 mg/g FW). Through QTL-seq bulk segregant analysis, the present study aimed to determine the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in the F2 population (n = 302), which was obtained by crossing BT 126 with a non-anthocyanin-containing SN 60. The whole-genome resequencing of purple (n = 30) and green (n = 30) bulk segregates detected ~1,117,709 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the B. oleracea genome. Two QTLs, tightly correlated with anthocyanin biosynthesis (p < 0.05), were detected on chromosomes 7 (BoPur7.1) and 9 (BoPur9.1). The subsequent high-resolution mapping of BoPur9.1 in the F2 population (n = 280) and F3 population (n = 580), with high-throughput genotyping of SNPs technology, narrowed the major anthocyanin biosynthesis QTL region to a physical distance of 73 kb, containing 14 genes. Among these genes, Bo9g174880, Bo9g174890, and Bo9g174900 showed high homology with AT5G07990 (gene encoding flavonoid 3′ hydroxylase), which was identified as a candidate gene for BoPur9.1. The expression of BoF3’H in BT 126 was significantly higher than that in SN60. Multiple biomarkers, related to these QTLs, represented potential targets of marker-assisted selection (MAS) foranthocyanin biosynthesis in broccoli. The present study provided genetic insights into the development of novel crop varieties with augmented health-promoting features and improved appearance.
Highlights
IntroductionBroccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italic) is a popular vegetable of B. oleracea that differs from most Brassica species, including Chinese cabbage, turnip, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and oilseed rape
F3 population (n = 580), with high-throughput genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) technology, narrowed the major anthocyanin biosynthesis QTL region to a physical distance of 73 kb, containing 14 genes
The present study provided genetic insights into the development of novel crop varieties with augmented health-promoting features and improved appearance
Summary
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italic) is a popular vegetable of B. oleracea that differs from most Brassica species, including Chinese cabbage, turnip, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and oilseed rape. Italic) is a popular vegetable of B. oleracea that differs from most Brassica species, including Chinese cabbage, turnip, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and oilseed rape. Most varieties of broccoli are domesticated from crop wild relatives in the Mediterranean Basin and grow as annuals, producing a large head with florets, buds, leaves, stalks, and stems for consumption. Both of broccoli and cauliflower cultivar groups are members of the CC genome B. oleracea (2n = 18) coenospecies. Purple broccoli attracts increasing attention as a functional food, owing to its pleasing appearance and high level of health-promoting effects [3]. The purple coloration has been identified as one of the signs of anthocyanin accumulation [4]
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