DNA markers linked to yield, yield components, and morphological traits in autotetraploid lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)
J. M. Musial A , K. F. Lowe B , J. M. Mackie A , K. S. Aitken C and J. A. G. Irwin A DA Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Plant Protection, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
B Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Mutdapilly Research Station, Peak Crossing, Qld 4306, Australia.
C CSIRO Plant Industry, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: j.irwin@uq.edu.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(7) 801-810 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05390
Submitted: 9 November 2005 Accepted: 10 February 2006 Published: 14 July 2006
Abstract
We have mapped and identified DNA markers linked to morphology, yield, and yield components of lucerne, using a backcross population derived from winter-active parents. The high-yielding and recurrent parent, D, produced individual markers that accounted for up to 18% of total yield over 6 harvests, at Gatton, south-eastern Queensland. The same marker, AC/TT8, was consistently identified at each individual harvest, and in individual harvests accounted for up to 26% of the phenotypic variation for yield. This marker was located in linkage group 2 of the D map, and several other markers positively associated with yield were consistently identified in this linkage group. Similarly, markers negatively associated with yield were consistently identified in the W116 map, W116 being the low-yielding parent. Highly significant positive correlations were observed between total yield and yield for harvests 1–6, and between total yield and stem length, tiller number, leaf yield/plant, leaf yield/5 stems, stem yield/plant, and stem yield/5 stems. Highly significant QTL were located for all these characters as well as for leaf shape and pubescence.
Additional keywords: alfalfa, non-dormant.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the CRC for Tropical Plant Protection and GRDC (Grains Research and Development Corporation) for providing funding support for the project. We also thank Tom Bowdler, Jodie Smith, Nikki Casey, and David Armour for their assistance with maintenance, harvesting, and assessing the field experiment, and Dave Schofield and the staff at Gatton Research Station for the day-to-day management of the field experiment.
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