The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
The evolution of locally adapted ecotypes is a common phenomenon that generates diversity within plant species. However, we know surprisingly little about the genetic mechanisms underlying the locally adapted traits involved in ecotype formation. The genetic architecture underlying locally adapted t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press
2016-11-01
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| Series: | G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://g3journal.org/lookup/doi/10.1534/g3.116.032763 |
| _version_ | 1819008491796299776 |
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| author | Elizabeth R. Milano David B. Lowry Thomas E. Juenger |
| author_facet | Elizabeth R. Milano David B. Lowry Thomas E. Juenger |
| author_sort | Elizabeth R. Milano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The evolution of locally adapted ecotypes is a common phenomenon that generates diversity within plant species. However, we know surprisingly little about the genetic mechanisms underlying the locally adapted traits involved in ecotype formation. The genetic architecture underlying locally adapted traits dictates how an organism will respond to environmental selection pressures, and has major implications for evolutionary ecology, conservation, and crop breeding. To understand the genetic architecture underlying the divergence of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) ecotypes, we constructed a genetic mapping population through a four-way outbred cross between two northern upland and two southern lowland accessions. Trait segregation in this mapping population was largely consistent with multiple independent loci controlling the suite of traits that characterizes ecotype divergence. We assembled a joint linkage map using ddRADseq, and mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) for traits that are divergent between ecotypes, including flowering time, plant size, physiological processes, and disease resistance. Overall, we found that most QTL had small to intermediate effects. While we identified colocalizing QTL for multiple traits, we did not find any large-effect QTL that clearly controlled multiple traits through pleiotropy or tight physical linkage. These results indicate that ecologically important traits in switchgrass have a complex genetic basis, and that similar loci may underlie divergence across the geographic range of the ecotypes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:41:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8df5aecf400d4521985d09120327c460 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2160-1836 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:41:19Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8df5aecf400d4521985d09120327c4602022-12-21T19:21:41ZengOxford University PressG3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics2160-18362016-11-016113561357010.1534/g3.116.03276313The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)Elizabeth R. MilanoDavid B. LowryThomas E. JuengerThe evolution of locally adapted ecotypes is a common phenomenon that generates diversity within plant species. However, we know surprisingly little about the genetic mechanisms underlying the locally adapted traits involved in ecotype formation. The genetic architecture underlying locally adapted traits dictates how an organism will respond to environmental selection pressures, and has major implications for evolutionary ecology, conservation, and crop breeding. To understand the genetic architecture underlying the divergence of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) ecotypes, we constructed a genetic mapping population through a four-way outbred cross between two northern upland and two southern lowland accessions. Trait segregation in this mapping population was largely consistent with multiple independent loci controlling the suite of traits that characterizes ecotype divergence. We assembled a joint linkage map using ddRADseq, and mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) for traits that are divergent between ecotypes, including flowering time, plant size, physiological processes, and disease resistance. Overall, we found that most QTL had small to intermediate effects. While we identified colocalizing QTL for multiple traits, we did not find any large-effect QTL that clearly controlled multiple traits through pleiotropy or tight physical linkage. These results indicate that ecologically important traits in switchgrass have a complex genetic basis, and that similar loci may underlie divergence across the geographic range of the ecotypes.http://g3journal.org/lookup/doi/10.1534/g3.116.032763genetic architectureflowering timelocal adaptationQTLtrait syndromes |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth R. Milano David B. Lowry Thomas E. Juenger The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics genetic architecture flowering time local adaptation QTL trait syndromes |
| title | The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) |
| title_full | The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) |
| title_fullStr | The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) |
| title_short | The Genetic Basis of Upland/Lowland Ecotype Divergence in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) |
| title_sort | genetic basis of upland lowland ecotype divergence in switchgrass panicum virgatum |
| topic | genetic architecture flowering time local adaptation QTL trait syndromes |
| url | http://g3journal.org/lookup/doi/10.1534/g3.116.032763 |
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