Comparative Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Sculpting the Curd of Brassica oleracea

Corresponding author: Andrew H. Paterson, Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, Rm. 162, Riverbend Research Center, 110 Riverbend Rd., Athens, GA 30602., paterson{at}dogwood.botany.uga.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: J. A. BIRCHLER

The enlarged inflorescence (curd) of cauliflower and broccoli provide not only a popular vegetable for human consumption, but also a unique opportunity for scientists who seek to understand the genetic basis of plant growth and development. By the comparison of quantitative trait loci (QTL) maps constructed from three different F₂ populations, we identified a total of 86 QTL that control eight curd-related traits in Brassica oleracea. The 86 QTL may reflect allelic variation in as few as 67 different genetic loci and 54 ancestral genes. Although the locations of QTL affecting a trait occasionally corresponded between different populations or between different homeologous Brassica chromosomes, our data supported other molecular and morphological data in suggesting that the Brassica genus is rapidly evolving. Comparative data enabled us to identify a number of candidate genes from Arabidopsis that warrant further investigation to determine if some of them might account for Brassica QTL. The Arabidopsis/Brassica system is an important example of both the challenges and opportunities associated with extrapolation of genomic information from facile models to large-genome taxa including major crops.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Long, J. Shi, D. Qiu, R. Li, C. Zhang, J. Wang, J. Hou, J. Zhao, L. Shi, B.-S. Park, et al. Flowering Time Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis of Oilseed Brassica in Multiple Environments and Genomewide Alignment with Arabidopsis Genetics, December 1, 2007; 177(4): 2433 - 2444. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Lou, J. Zhao, J. S. Kim, S. Shen, D. P. Del Carpio, X. Song, M. Jin, D. Vreugdenhil, X. Wang, M. Koornneef, et al. Quantitative trait loci for flowering time and morphological traits in multiple populations of Brassica rapa J. Exp. Bot., November 28, 2007; (2007) erm255v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.-J. Yang, J. S. Kim, S.-J. Kwon, K.-B. Lim, B.-S. Choi, J.-A Kim, M. Jin, J. Y. Park, M.-H. Lim, H.-I. Kim, et al. Sequence-Level Analysis of the Diploidization Process in the Triplicated FLOWERING LOCUS C Region of Brassica rapa PLANT CELL, June 1, 2006; 18(6): 1339 - 1347. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. J. Murren and M. Pigliucci Morphological responses to simulated wind in the genus Brassica (Brassicaceae): allopolyploids and their parental species Am. J. Botany, May 1, 2005; 92(5): 810 - 818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. M. L. Somorjai, R. G. Danzmann, and M. M. Ferguson Distribution of Temperature Tolerance Quantitative Trait Loci in Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and Inferred Homologies in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Genetics, November 1, 2003; 165(3): 1443 - 1456. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Lukens, F. Zou, D. Lydiate, I. Parkin, and T. Osborn Comparison of a Brassica oleracea Genetic Map With the Genome of Arabidopsis thaliana Genetics, May 1, 2003; 164(1): 359 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Schranz, P. Quijada, S.-B. Sung, L. Lukens, R. Amasino, and T. C. Osborn Characterization and Effects of the Replicated Flowering Time Gene FLC in Brassica rapa Genetics, November 1, 2002; 162(3): 1457 - 1468. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Quesada, S. Garcia-Martinez, P. Piqueras, M. R. Ponce, and J. L. Micol Genetic Architecture of NaCl Tolerance in Arabidopsis Plant Physiology, October 1, 2002; 130(2): 951 - 963. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Freeling Grasses as a Single Genetic System. Reassessment 2001 Plant Physiology, March 1, 2001; 125(3): 1191 - 1197. [Full Text]