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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.09.19.508593

QTL mapping of the narrow-branch "Pendula" phenotype in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.)

Gil Munoz, F.·Bernhardsson, C.·Ranade, S. S.·Scofield, D. G.·Pulkkinen, P. O.·Ingvarsson, P. K.·Garcia-Gil, M. R.
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Abstract

Pendula-phenotyped Norway spruce has a potential forestry interest for high density plantations. This phenotype is believed to be caused by a dominant single mutation. Despite the availability of RAPD markers linked to the trait, the nature of the mutation is yet unknown. We performed a Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping based on two different progenies of F1 crosses between pendula and normal crowned trees using NGS technologies. Approximately 25 % of all gene bearing scaffolds of Picea abies genome assembly v1.0 were mapped to 12 linkage groups and a single QTL, positioned near the center of LG VI, was found in both crosses. The closest probe-markers placed on the maps were positioned 0.82 cM and 0.48 cM away from the Pendula marker in two independent pendula-crowned x normal-crowned wildtype crosses, respectively. We have identified genes close to the QTL region with differential mutations on coding regions and discussed their potential role in changing branch architecture.

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Gil Munoz, F., Bernhardsson, C., Ranade, S. S., Scofield, D. G., Pulkkinen, P. O., Ingvarsson, P. K., Garcia-Gil, M. R.. 2022-09-22. QTL mapping of the narrow-branch "Pendula" phenotype in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.). https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.19.508593

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