Genetics, Vol. 157, 1773-1787, April 2001, Copyright © 2001

Genetic and Nongenetic Bases for the L-Shaped Distribution of Quantitative Trait Loci Effects

Bruno Bosta, Dominique de Viennea, Frédéric Hospitala, Laurence Moreaua, and Christine Dillmanna
a Station de Génétique Végétale, INRA/UPS/INA P-G, F-91190 Gif sur Yvette, France

Corresponding author: Christine Dillmann, Station de Génétique Végétale, INRA/UPS/INA P-G, Ferme du Moulon, F-91190 Gif sur Yvette, France., dillmann{at}moulon.inra.fr (E-mail)

Communicating editor: P. D. KEIGHTLEY

The L-shaped distribution of estimated QTL effects (R2) has long been reported. We recently showed that a metabolic mechanism could account for this phenomenon. But other nonexclusive genetic or nongenetic causes may contribute to generate such a distribution. Using analysis and simulations of an additive genetic model, we show that linkage disequilibrium between QTL, low heritability, and small population size may also be involved, regardless of the gene effect distribution. In addition, a comparison of the additive and metabolic genetic models revealed that estimates of the QTL effects for traits proportional to metabolic flux are far less robust than for additive traits. However, in both models the highest R2's repeatedly correspond to the same set of QTL.




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