Quantitative trait locus mapping of hawthorn flavonoid content based on high-density linkage map

Abstract

Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) belongs to the Rosaceae family and possess important value in food and medicinal product. Flavonoids in hawthorn leaves are major active ingredients and widely used for medicinal purposes. In our study, leaves from hybrid populations of 'DMQ' × 'QJX' and 'DMQ' × 'XBRZ' were used for flavonoid content quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in 2018 and 2019 based on our previously established high-density genetic map. In total, 10 and 27 QTL related to leaf flavonoid content in 'DMQ' × 'QJX' were discovered in 2018 and 2019, respectively; 10 QTL related to leaf flavonoid content in 'DMQ' × 'XBRZ' were discovered in 2019. Interestingly, three stable QTL were obtained in the 'DMQ' × 'QJX' population, which were related to the content of Vi rhamnoside and Hy in 2018 and 2019 and co-segregated with three single nucleotide polymorphism markers: m2172, m516, and f258.The results of this study provide important theoretical reference for molecular assisted breeding of flavonoid trait in hawthorn.