Transcriptome and association mapping revealed functional genes respond to drought stress in Populus

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.829888
• Publication Date: 2022-07-29T08:18:16Z
• Authors: Fangyuan Song; Jiaxuan Zhou; Mingyang Quan; Liang Xiao; Wenjie Lu; Shitong Qin; Yuanyuan Fang; Dan Wang; Peng Li; Qingzhang Du; Yousry A. El-Kassaby; Deqiang Zhang
• Keywords: Association mapping; Candidate gene; Epistasis; Genetic Association; Populus trichocarpa; Drought Tolerance; Functional Genomics

Drought frequency and severity are exacerbated by global climate change, which could compromise forest ecosystems. However, there have been minimal efforts to systematically investigate the genetic basis of response drought stress in perennial trees. Here, we implemented a systems genetics approach that combines co-expression analysis, association genetics, expression quantitative trait nucleotide (eQTN) mapping construct an allelic regulatory network comprising four key regulators (PtoeIF-2B, PtoABF3, PtoPSB33, PtoLHCA4) under conditions. Furthermore, Hap_01PtoeIF-2B, superior haplotype associated with net photosynthesis, was revealed through analysis. In total, 75 candidate genes related were identified transcriptome analyses five Populus cultivars (P. tremula × P. alba, nigra, simonii, trichocarpa, tomentosa). Through mapping, detected 92 unique SNPs from 38 104 epistatic gene pairs six drought-related traits mapping. eQTN unravels stress-related loci significantly levels for stress. summary, developed integrated strategy dissecting complex network, facilitates population genomics can assess effects environmental threats.