ARS | Publication request: THE FIRST GENETIC LINKAGES AMONG MOLECULAR MARKERS AND MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.)

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 4, 2004
Publication Date: July 1, 2005
Citation: Zewdie, Y., Havey, M.J., Prince, J.P., Jenderek, M.M. 2005. The first genetic linkages among molecular markers and morphological traits in garlic (allium sativum l.). Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 130(4):569-574.

Interpretive Summary: Garlic has been asexually propagated since time immemorial. The discovery of male-fertile garlic accessions has opened the door for genetic studies and improvement through sexual recombination. A single garlic plant from USDA Plant Introduction 540316 was self pollinated to produce 84 progenies. This family was used to construct the first linkage map of garlic based on single nucleotide polymorphisms, simple sequence repeat, and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Thirty-seven genetic markers formed nine linkage groups; 16 markers remained unlinked. A male fertility locus and genetic factors significantly affecting flower-stalk height, number of flowers per umbel, bulb weight, and number of cloves per bulb were placed on the map. This first genetic map of garlic is a seminal step towards the genetic improvement of garlic and will be of interest to plant breeders working garlic, onion, and other edible Allium vegetables.

Technical Abstract: Garlic has been cultivated by asexual propagation since time immemorial. The discovery of male-fertile garlic accessions has opened a venue for genetic studies and improvement through sexual recombination. An S1 family of 84 progenies was generated from a single male-fertile plant from USDA Plant Introduction 540316 and used to construct the first linkage map of garlic based on single nucleotide polymorphisms, simple sequence repeat, and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Thirty-seven markers formed nine linkage groups covering 415 cM with average distance of 15 cM between loci; 16 loci remained unlinked. A male fertility locus and quantitative trait loci significantly affecting important morphological traits were placed on the map. This first genetic map of garlic is a seminal step towards the genetic improvement of garlic and eventual marker-assisted breeding.