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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #371905

Research Project: Efficient and Effective Preservation and Management of Plant and Microbial Genetic Resource Collections

Location: Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research

Title: Meta-QTL for morphological traits and pharmaceutical alkaloids in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) 'G.Don')

Author
item SHARIATIPOUR, NIKWAN - Shiraz University
item HEIDARI, BAHRAM - Shiraz University
item Richards, Christopher

Submitted to: Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2022
Publication Date: 7/1/2022
Citation: Shariatipour, N., Heidari, B., Richards, C.M. 2022. Meta-QTL for morphological traits and pharmaceutical alkaloids in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) 'G.Don'). Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. 98(1):87-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2022.2091485.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2022.2091485

Interpretive Summary: Catharanthus roseus, known as the common periwinkle, is an ornamental and a medicinal species. Common periwinkle is known mainly for its pharmacologically important alkaloids and produces more than 130 terpenoid indole alkaloids used in the treatment arterial hypertension and anxiety disorders. In this paper we describe the application of meta-QTL analysis which combines data from three independent genetic studies involving different sets of C. roseus accessions in different years and locations to generate a set of consensus QTL that more clearly define the genetic architecture of these important medicinal compounds. The results of this consensus QTL map of alkaloid biosynthesis will result in refined marker development will aid molecular assisted breeding efforts in this species.

Technical Abstract: Meta quantitative traits analysis that integrates quantitative trait loci (QTL) data from various independent experiments is a powerful method used to discern reliable genomic regions associated with important quantitative traits. The aim of the present study was to use of meta-analysis technique to identify the most reliable and stable QTLs associated with morphological and terpenoid indole alkaloids traits in Catharanthus roseus. For this purpose, a QTL database containing 52 QTLs retrieved from three independent mapping populations associated with 13 quatitative traits was constructed. Then a genetic consensus map based on Kosambi map function was constructed and QTLs projection was performed for running meta-analysis. The results showed that 40 QTLs were projected successfully in to the genetic consensus map. We identified 18 MQTLs (with two-fold reduction in confidence interval) distributed on six linkage groups of C. roseus. Co-localization frequency results suggested that total alkaloid content in leaf and serpentine in roots with 50% and 60% frequencies were the most frequent being associated with vindoline in leaf and catharanthine in leaf. Overall, the MQTL.LG1.5, MQTL.LG1.1, MQTL.LG1.7 and MQTL.LG2.2 harbored the highest number of QTLs and were the most reliable chromosomal positions for quantitative traits in periwinkle.