Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
2. School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
Abstract
Abstract
Growth in height (GH) is a critical determinant for tree survival and development in forests and can be depicted using logistic growth curves. Our understanding of the genetic mechanism underlying dynamic GH, however, is limited, particularly under field conditions. We applied two mapping models (Funmap and FVTmap) to find quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for dynamic GH and two epistatic models (2HiGWAS and 1HiGWAS) to detect epistasis in Catalpa bungei grown in the field. We identified 13 co-located QTLs, influencing the growth curve by Funmap and three heterochronic parameters (the timing of the inflection point, maximum acceleration, and maximum deceleration) by FVTmap. The combined use of FVTmap and Funmap reduced the number of candidate genes by more than 70%. We detected 76 significant epistatic interactions, amongst which a key gene, COMT14, co-located by three models (but not 1HiGWAS) interacted with three other genes, implying that a novel network of protein interaction centered on COMT14 may control the dynamic GH of C. bungei. These findings provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the dynamic growth in tree height in natural environments, and emphasize the necessity of incorporating multiple dynamic models for screening more reliable candidate genes.
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)