Inheritance analysis of major lignan contents in Schisandra chinensis hybrid progeny

Abstract

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years and is classified as a superior herb. To examine the inheritance of lignan content traits, we measured the contents of six lignan constituents in the fruit and stem of 142 individuals from the cross ‘Jinwuwei 1’ × ‘Zaohong’ for three successive years. The optimal genetic model for each trait was screened using a mixed major gene + polygene inheritance model. The lignan contents differed in degree of variation, with the annual average coefficient of variation ranging from 22.31% to 79.80% across the three years. Significant transgressive heterosis was observed for schisandrol B content both in the fruit and stem, whereas negative heterosis was detected for γ-schisandrin content both in the fruit and stem. The optimal genetic models were inconsistent among different lignans in the same organ and between different organs for the same lignan, which may be associated with specific gene expression patterns. The additive effects of the lignan contents were mostly positive, whereas the dominance effects were mainly negative. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for quantitative trait locus mapping and marker-assisted breeding of lignan contents in S. chinensis.