The complex genetic architecture of shoot growth natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007954
• Publication Date: 2019-04-22T17:27:27Z
• Authors: Elodie Marchadier; Mathieu Hanemian; Sébastien Tisné; Liên Bach; Christos Bazakos; Elodie Gilbault; Parham Haddadi; Laetitia Virlouvet; Olivier Loudet
• Keywords: Genetic architecture; Association mapping; Trait; Family-based QTL mapping; Phenotypic trait; Quantitative Genetics

One of the main outcomes quantitative genetics approaches to natural variation is reveal genetic architecture underlying phenotypic space. Complex architectures are described as including numerous loci (or alleles) with small-effect and/or low-frequency in populations, interactions background, environment or age. Linkage association mapping strategies will be more less sensitive this complexity, so that we still have an unclear picture its extent. By combining high-throughput phenotyping under two environmental conditions classical QTL multiple Arabidopsis thaliana segregating populations well advanced near isogenic lines construction and survey, attempted improve our understanding variation. Integrative traits such those related vegetative growth used work (highlighting either cumulative growth, rate morphology) all showed complex dynamic respect population condition. The resolutive approach, complexity uncover, several instances QTLs visible but not detected initial mapping, indicating accuracy was limiting than resolution architecture. In ultimate approach resolve intensified effort target specifically a 3Mb-region known segregate for major trait gene, using series selected recombined every 100kb. We discovered at least 3 other independent had remained hidden region, some trait- condition-specific effects, opposite allelic effects. If were extrapolate figures obtained on specific region particular cross genome- species-scale, would predict hundreds causative detectable effect controlling these growth-related phenotypes.