Frontiers in Plant Science (Jan 2023)

Development of a MAGIC population and high-resolution quantitative trait mapping for nicotine content in tobacco

  • Guangdi Yuan,
  • Kefan Sun,
  • Wenlong Yu,
  • Zipeng Jiang,
  • Caihong Jiang,
  • Dan Liu,
  • Liuying Wen,
  • Huan Si,
  • Fengyan Wu,
  • He Meng,
  • Lirui Cheng,
  • Aiguo Yang,
  • Yuanying Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1086950
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population is an ideal genetic and breeding material for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and molecular breeding. In this study, a MAGIC population derived from eight tobacco parents was developed. Eight parents and 560 homozygous lines were genotyped by a 430K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip assay and phenotyped for nicotine content under different conditions. Four QTLs associated with nicotine content were detected by genome-wide association mapping (GWAS), and one major QTL, named qNIC7-1, was mapped repeatedly under different conditions. Furthermore, by combining forward mapping, bioinformatics analysis and gene editing, we identified an ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factor as a candidate gene underlying the major QTL qNIC7-1 for nicotine content in tobacco. A presence/absence variation (PAV) at qNIC7-1 confers changes in nicotine content. Overall, the large size of this MAGIC population, diverse genetic composition, balanced parental contributions and high levels of recombination all contribute to its value as a genetic and breeding resource. The application of the tobacco MAGIC population for QTL mapping and detecting rare allelic variation was demonstrated using nicotine content as a proof of principle.

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