Mapping of QTLs for leaf area and the association with winter hardiness in fall-sown lentil

Abstract

Variations in plant architecture are often associated with the ability of plants to survive cold stress during winter. In studies of winter hardiness in lentil, it appeared that small leaf area was associated with improved winter survival. Based on this observation, the inheritance of leaf area and the relationship with winter hardiness using an F₆ - derived recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from the cross of WA8649090 x Precoz was investigated. The WA8649090 parent was winter hardy and had small leaves, while the Precoz parent was non-winter hardy and had large leaves. The 106 RILs and the parents were planted in a field in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Leaf area
(cm²) of leaves from the fourth node was measured using a flatbed scanner and WinRHIZO software. Average leaf area for WA8649090 was 0.46 cm², while leaf area for Precoz was 0.89 cm². Average leaf area of the RILs was 0.63 cm², and the frequency distribution was continuous, indicating the effects of more than one gene. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using a 130-point linkage map revealed one major QTL on linkage group 6 which explained 20.45% of the phenotypic variation for leaf area. The location of QTL for leaf area mapped the same region where one of the QTL for winter hardiness was mapped and significant association (r² = 0.750, P< 0.01) was found between leaf area and winter hardiness. These results indicated an association between winter hardiness and leaf area that provides information applicable to lentil breeding.

Keywords: Leaf area, lentil, recombinant inbred line (RIL), QTL mapping, winter hardiness