Identification of QTLs for seed dormancy in cultivated peanut using a recombinant inbred line mapping population

Authors: Wang, Ming; WANG, HUI - University Of Georgia; ZHAO, CHUANZHI - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; Tonnis, Brandon; Tallury, Shyamalrau - Shyam; WANG, XINGJUN - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; CLEVENGER, JOSH - Hudsonalpha Institute For Biotechnology; Guo, Baozhu

Submitted to: Plant Molecular Biology Reporter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/2021
Publication Date: 8/30/2021
Citation: Wang, M.L., Wang, H., Zhao, C., Tonnis, B.D., Tallury, S.P., Wang, X., Clevenger, J., Guo, B. 2021. Identification of QTLs for seed dormancy in cultivated peanut using a recombinant inbred line mapping population. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-021-01315-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-021-01315-5

Interpretive Summary: Peanut cultivars with a certain degree of seed dormancy can inhibit preharvest sprouting and increase the susceptibility to biotic infection resulting in potential preharvest aflatoxin contamination. We conducted two-year study in the field by planting the recombinant inbred lines from a mapping population derived from the cross of Tifrunner, a dormant Runner type, and GT-C20, a non-dormant Spanish type, and the freshly harvested seeds were used for seed dormancy tests. We identified three lines consistently showing no dormancy (T48, T83, T160) and two lines with strong dormancy (T11, T163), which could be used for further study or breeding purpose. We also genotyped the lines in the population using peanut SNP Array version developed by US peanut industry and identified two major QTLs linked to seed dormancy on chromosome A04 and A05, contributing 43.16% and 51.61%, respectively, to the dormancy trait. The QTL mapped on chromosome A05 was in agreement with other published studies, and a candidate gene, Arahy.KB746A, has been identified as ethylene-responsive transcription factor, and it could be developed for markers to assist breeding selection for seed dormancy in peanut.

Technical Abstract: Seed dormancy is an important breeding trait for development of certain types of peanut cultivars. Peanut cultivars with a certain degree of seed dormancy can inhibit preharvest sprouting and increase the susceptibility to biotic infection resulting in potential preharvest aflatoxin contamination. The progenies from a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population derived from a cross of Tifrunner, a dormant Runner type, and GT-C20, a non-dormant Spanish type, were planted in the field for two years (2017 and 2018) and the freshly harvested seeds were used for seed dormancy tests. There were three RILs from two-year tests with no dormancy (T48, T83, T160) and two lines with strong dormancy (T11, T163). This RIL population was genotyped using peanut SNP Array ‘Axiom_Arachis’ 58 K, and two major seed dormancy QTLs were anchored on chromosome A04 and A05 with 43.16% and 51.61% of the phenotype variation explained (PVE), respectively. The QTL mapped on chromosome A05 had been anchored on a physical map interval of 98 kb (157.538-157.636 Mb) from which a possible candidate gene (Arahy.KB746A, ethylene-responsive transcription factor) was identified. Reference to the peanut physical map and flanking sequences, DNA markers can be developed for these two QTLs and used in marker-assisted breeding selection for seed dormancy in peanut.