Linkage and Association Mapping of Arabidopsis thaliana Flowering Time in Nature

摘要: Flowering time is a key life-history trait in the plant life cycle. Most studies to unravel genetics of flowering Arabidopsis thaliana have been performed under greenhouse conditions. Here, we describe study about that differs from previous two important ways: first, measure more complex and ecologically realistic environment; and, second, combine advantages genome-wide association (GWA) traditional linkage (QTL) mapping. Our experiments involved phenotyping nearly 20,000 plants over 2 winters field conditions, including 184 worldwide natural accessions genotyped for 216,509 SNPs 4,366 RILs derived 13 independent crosses chosen maximize genetic phenotypic diversity. Based on photothermal model, variation scored our experiment was poorly correlated with previously obtained reinforcing demonstrations importance genotype by environment interactions A. need adaptive The use provides great power dissecting architecture specific We than 60 additive QTLs, all relatively small medium effects organized 5 major clusters. show QTL mapping increases distinguish true false associations GWA also permits identification negatives, is, causative are lost when applying methods control population structure. Major genes underpinning were not associated this study. Instead, found prevalence regulation circadian clock. Furthermore, identified new genomic regions lacking obvious candidate genes.