Genomic regions controlling agronomic traits and macro- and micronutrient contents in common bean grains, via association mapping

Author(s)

Augusto Lima Diniz

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2016-09-02

Examining board members

Maria Lucia Carneiro Vieira; Alisson Fernando Chiorato; Antonio Augusto Franco Garcia; Gabriel Rodrigues Alves Margarido; Tsai Siu Mui

• Advisor: Maria Lucia Carneiro Vieira

Abstract

Common bean is an important crop produced and consumed in Brazil and worldwide. Several research initiatives have been set up to implement breeding programs for developing more productive cultivars tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses, and improving nutritional and technological grain quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use association mapping in order to identify the genomic regions controlling agronomic traits and the content of macroand micronutrients in common bean. A panel of accessions and lines was (i) genotyped by sequencing, with imputed missing data; (ii) and phenotyped for five agronomic traits and 13 grain nutrients content under two sets of experimental conditions (field and greenhouse). The genotypic information provided a basis for investigating (i) population structure, (ii) kinship and (iii) the extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD). Mixed models were used for predicting phenotypic means. Finally, association mapping was performed using the FarmCPU model. A total of 35,527 and 9,388 SNPs (MAF ≥ 0.05) distributed over the 11 chromosomes of P. vulgaris was obtained based on two missing data thresholds (80 and 10%). Population structure and kinship analysis highlighted the distinction between accessions from different gene pools. These factors strongly influenced the extent of LD. Measures to correct these biases indicated that the major LD genomic blocks were located within centromeric and pericentomeric regions. In addition, high LD was detected between loci from different chromosomes, suggesting that the breeding process and autogamy also influence LD in common bean, given that the bias resulting from population structure and kinship were corrected. The panel used exhibited high phenotypic variability for the following agronomic traits: \'days to flowering\' (DTF), \'days to pod formation\' (DTPF), \'number of pods per plant\' (NPPP), \'number of seeds per pod\' (NSPP) and \'mass of 100 grains\' (M100); and the following grain nutrient contents: copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). A total of 176 SNPs were identified by association mapping, 112 located in gene regions - exons (71), introns (29), 5\'-UTR (5) and 3\'-UTR (7). Such polymorphisms, especially those within exons or near loci as Ppd, traditionally considered to be involved in DTF control, are strong candidates for providing an elucidation of phenotypic variability. The remaining 64 SNPs were located in intergenic regions, in which the DL decays over 1 Mb. It would therefore be worth investigating LD in the region flanking the SNPs for genes associated with phenotypic variation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/06647-9 - Identification of genomic regions associated with iron and zinc content in common bean seeds using associative mapping
• Grantee: Augusto Lima Diniz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate