QTL analysis of root morphology, flowering time, and yield reveals trade-offs in response to drought in Brassica napus.

ABSTRACT: Drought escape and dehydration avoidance represent alternative strategies for drought adaptation in annual crops. The mechanisms underlying these two strategies are reported to have a negative correlation, suggesting a trade-off. We conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of flowering time and root mass, traits representing each strategy, in Brassica napus to understand if a trade-off exists and what the genetic basis might be. Our field experiment used a genotyped population of doubled haploid lines and included both irrigated and rainfed treatments, allowing analysis of plasticity in each trait. We found strong genetic correlations among all traits, suggesting a trade-off among traits may exist. Summing across traits and treatments we found 20 QTLs, but many of these co-local

SUBMITTER: Fletcher RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4265167 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature