Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-28-2017
Department
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Abstract
Background
Bark plays important roles in photosynthate transport and storage, along with physical and chemical protection. Bark texture varies extensively among species, from smooth to fissured to deeply furrowed, but its genetic control is unknown. This study sought to determine the main genomic regions associated with natural variation in bark features and stem diameter. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were mapped using an interspecific pseudo-backcross pedigree (Populus trichocarpa x P. deltoides and P. deltoides) for bark texture, bark thickness and diameter collected across three years, two sites and three biological replicates per site.
Results
QTL specific to bark texture were highly reproducible in shared intervals across sites, years and replicates. Significant positive correlations and co-localization between trait QTL suggest pleiotropic regulators or closely linked genes. A list of candidate genes with related putative function, location close to QTL maxima and with the highest expression level in the phloem, xylem and cambium was identified.
Conclusion
Candidate genes for bark texture included an ortholog of Arabidopsis ANAC104 (PopNAC128), which plays a role in lignified fiber cell and ray development, as well as Pinin and Fasciclin (PopFLA) genes with a role in cell adhesion, cell shape and migration. The results presented in this study provide a basis for future genomic characterization of genes found within the QTL for bark texture, bark thickness and diameter in order to better understand stem and bark development in Populus and other woody perennial plants. The QTL mapping approach identified a list of prime candidate genes for further validation using functional genomics or forward genetics approaches.
Publication Title
BMC Plant Biology
Recommended Citation
Bdeir, R.,
Muchero, W.,
Yordanov, Y.,
Tuskan, G.,
Busov, V. B.,
&
Gailing, O.
(2017).
Quantitative trait locus mapping of Populus bark features and stem diameter.
BMC Plant Biology,
17, 1-13.
http://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-017-1166-4
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/267
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Version
Publisher's PDF
Publisher's Statement
© The Author(s). 2017. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-017-1166-4