Association mapping and domestication analysis to dissect genetic improvement process of upland cotton yield-related traits in China

摘要

Background: Cotton fiber yield is a complex trait,which can be influenced by multiple agronomic traits.Unravelling the genetic basis of cotton fiber yield-related traits contributes to genetic improvement of cotton.Results: In this study,503 upland cotton varieties covering the four breeding stages(BS1–BS4,1911–2011)in China were used for association mapping and domestication analysis.One hundred and forty SSR markers significantly associated with ten fiber yield-related traits were identified,among which,29 markers showed an increasing trend contribution to cotton yield-related traits from BS1 to BS4,and 26 markers showed decreased trend effect.Four favorable alleles of 9 major loci(R^(2)≥3)were strongly selected during the breeding stages,and the candidate genes of the four strongly selected alleles were predicated according to the gene function annotation and tissue expression data.Conclusions :The study not only uncovers the genetic basis of 10 cotton yield-related traits but also provides genetic evidence for cotton improvement during the cotton breeding process in China.