We report on the development, genetic characterization and linkage mapping of a battery of SSR (simple sequence repeat) loci in Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla. This study reveals the abundance of SSRs in Eucalyptus, the very high information content of these markers for mapping and individual identification, and demonstrates the feasibility of constructing a comprehensive microsatellite-based linkage map for Eucalyptus. Primer sequence for a set of 20 highly informative EMBRA (Eucalyptus microsatellites from Brazil) loci are made available together with their map position and estimates of the expected heterozygosity and allele size range in these two species. Using genomic library enrichment and anchored-PCR screening prior to sequencing, the efficiency of SSR marker locus development was 63% from sequencing data to operationally useful SSR loci. Absolute transportability between the two species and very high levels of allelic variability and expected heterozygosity (H) were seen at all SSR loci surveyed. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 9 to 26 with an average of 16.

Rice ( Oryza sativa) cultivar development currently faces the task of overcoming yield plateaus, which is difficult due to the narrow genetic base of breeding programs. Oryza glumaepatula is a diploid wild relative of cultivated rice, native to Central and South America, and is therefore a potential source of alleles of agronomic importance to rice breeding programs. We studied 11 agronomic traits in BC(2)F(2) families of the interspecific cross Oryza sativa x O. glumaepatula. Transgressive lines which are almost isogenic to the elite recurrent O. sativa parent were identified for most of these traits. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed by single-point and interval mapping using a molecular map based on 157 microsatellite and STS markers. Marker regions accounting for 14.5 to 72.9% of a phenotypic variation trait were identified in 9 of the 12 rice chromosomes. Positive QTL effects from O. glumaepatula were observed in chromosomal regions associated with tillering and panicle-number traits.

BackgroundCommon bean is a legume of social and nutritional importance as a food crop, cultivated worldwide especially in developing countries, accounting for an important source of income for small farmers. The availability of the complete sequences of the two common bean genomes has dramatically accelerated and has enabled new experimental strategies to be applied for genetic research. DArTseq has been widely used as a method of SNP genotyping allowing comprehensive genome coverage with genetic applications in common bean breeding programs.ResultsUsing this technology, 6286 SNPs (1 SNP/86.5 Kbp) were genotyped in genic (43.3%) and non-genic regions (56.7%). Genetic subdivision associated to the common bean gene pools (K = 2) and related to grain types (K = 3 and K = 5) were reported. A total of 83% and 91% of all SNPs were polymorphic within the Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools, respectively, and 26% were able to differentiate the gene pools. Genetic diversity analysis revealed an average H E of 0.442 for the whole collection, 0.102 for Andean and 0.168 for Mesoamerican gene pools (F ST = 0.747 between gene pools), 0.440 for the group of cultivars and lines, and 0.448 for the group of landrace accessions (F ST = 0.002 between cultivar/line and landrace groups). The SNP effects were predicted with predominance of impact on non-coding regions (77.8%). SNPs under selection were identified within gene pools comparing landrace and cultivar/line germplasm groups (Andean: 18; Mesoamerican: 69) and between the gene pools (59 SNPs), predominantly on chromosomes 1 and 9. The LD extension estimate corrected for population structure and relatedness (r2 SV) was ~ 88 kbp, while for the Andean gene pool was ~ 395 kbp, and for the Mesoamerican was ~ 130 kbp.ConclusionsFor common bean, DArTseq provides an efficient and cost-effective strategy of generating SNPs for large-scale genome-wide studies. The DArTseq resulted in an operational panel of 560 polymorphic SNPs in linkage equilibrium, providing high genome coverage. This SNP set could be used in genotyping platforms with many applications, such as population genetics, phylogeny relation between common bean varieties and support to molecular breeding approaches.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3805-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: Eucalypts are the most widely planted hardwood trees in the world occupying globally more than 18 million hectares as an important source of carbon neutral renewable energy and raw material for pulp, paper and solid wood. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) in Eucalyptus have been localized on pedigree-specific RAPD or AFLP maps seriously limiting the value of such QTL mapping efforts for molecular breeding. The availability of a genus-wide genetic map with transferable microsatellite markers has become a must for the effective advancement of genomic undertakings. This report describes the development of a novel set of 230 EMBRA microsatellites, the construction of the first comprehensive microsatellite-based consensus linkage map for Eucalyptus and the consolidation of existing linkage information for other microsatellites and candidate genes mapped in other species of the genus.

The existence of Oryza glumaepatula is threatened by devastation and, thus, the implementation of conservation strategies is extremely relevant. This study aimed to characterize the genetic variability and estimate population parameters of 30 O. glumaepatula populations from three Brazilian biomes using 10 microsatellite markers. The levels of allelic variability for the SSR loci presented a mean of 10.3 alleles per locus and a value of 0.10 for the average allelic frequency value. The expected total heterozygosity (H(e)) ranged from 0.63 to 0.86. For the 30 populations tested, the mean observed (H(o)) and expected heterozygosities (H(e)) were 0.03 and 0.11 within population, respectively, indicating an excess of homozygotes resulting from the preferentially self-pollinating reproduction habit. The estimated fixation index ( (IS) ) was 0.79 that differed significantly from zero, indicating high inbreeding within each O. glumaepatula population. The total inbreeding of the species ((IT) ) was 0.98 and the genetic diversity indexes among populations, (ST) and (ST), were 0.85 and 0.90, respectively, indicating high genetic variability among them. Thus, especially for populations located in regions threatened with devastation, it is urgent that in situ preservation conditions should be created or that collections be made for ex situ preservation to prevent loss of the species genetic variability.

BackgroundOver recent years, a growing effort has been made to develop microsatellite markers for the genomic analysis of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) to broaden the knowledge of the molecular genetic basis of this species. The availability of large sets of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in public databases has given rise to an expedient approach for the identification of SSRs (Simple Sequence Repeats), specifically EST-derived SSRs. In the present work, a battery of new microsatellite markers was obtained from a search of the Phaseolus vulgaris EST database. The diversity, degree of transferability and polymorphism of these markers were tested.ResultsFrom 9,583 valid ESTs, 4,764 had microsatellite motifs, from which 377 were used to design primers, and 302 (80.11%) showed good amplification quality. To analyze transferability, a group of 167 SSRs were tested, and the results showed that they were 82% transferable across at least one species. The highest amplification rates were observed between the species from the Phaseolus (63.7%), Vigna (25.9%), Glycine (19.8%), Medicago (10.2%), Dipterix (6%) and Arachis (1.8%) genera. The average PIC (Polymorphism Information Content) varied from 0.53 for genomic SSRs to 0.47 for EST-SSRs, and the average number of alleles per locus was 4 and 3, respectively. Among the 315 newly tested SSRs in the BJ (BAT93 X Jalo EEP558) population, 24% (76) were polymorphic. The integration of these segregant loci into a framework map composed of 123 previously obtained SSR markers yielded a total of 199 segregant loci, of which 182 (91.5%) were mapped to 14 linkage groups, resulting in a map length of 1,157 cM.ConclusionsA total of 302 newly developed EST-SSR markers, showing good amplification quality, are available for the genetic analysis of Phaseolus vulgaris. These markers showed satisfactory rates of transferability, especially between species that have great economic and genomic values. Their diversity was comparable to genomic SSRs, and they were incorporated in the common bean reference genetic map, which constitutes an important contribution to and advance in Phaseolus vulgaris genomic research.

A novel set of 50 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed and mapped on existing RAPD framework maps of Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla. Together with the twenty previously developed microsatellite markers, these were used to align the existing maps for the two most commercially important Eucalyptus species in the tropics. Sixty-three microsatellite markers were placed on the E. grandis map in 11 linkage groups, and 53 on the E. urophylla map distributed in 10 linkage groups. Approximately 66% of the microsatellite markers segregated in a fully informative fashion, allowing the establishment of colinear syntenic linkage groups between the two maps. The 50 new microsatellite markers were highly informative, with an average of 14 alleles per locus, and average expected heterozygosity between 0.82 and 0.87. Furthermore, within the subgenus Symphyomyrtus, to which the vast majority of commercially important Eucalyptus species belong, these markers display on average 90% transportability. This set of 70 mapped microsatellite markers represents a significant step toward the development of a genus-wide reference linkage map for Eucalyptus. These highly multiallelic and transportable markers constitute a powerful tool for QTL discovery and validation, and can be used in directed searches for QTL allele variation across Eucalyptus pedigrees.

Drought stress is an important abiotic factor limiting common bean yield, with great impact on the production worldwide. Understanding the genetic basis regulating beans’ yield and seed weight (SW) is a fundamental prerequisite for the development of superior cultivars. The main objectives of this work were to conduct genome-wide marker discovery by genotyping a Mesoamerican panel of common bean germplasm, containing cultivated and landrace accessions of broad origin, followed by the identification of genomic regions associated with productivity under two water regimes using different genome-wide association study (GWAS) approaches. A total of 11,870 markers were genotyped for the 339 genotypes, of which 3,213 were SilicoDArT and 8,657 SNPs derived from DArT and CaptureSeq. The estimated linkage disequilibrium extension, corrected for structure and relatedness (r2sv), was 98.63 and 124.18 kb for landraces and breeding lines, respectively. Germplasm was structured into landraces and lines/cultivars. We carried out GWASs for 100-SW and yield in field environments with and without water stress for 3 consecutive years, using single-, segment-, and gene-based models. Higher number of associations at high stringency was identified for the SW trait under irrigation, totaling ∼185 QTLs for both single- and segment-based, whereas gene-based GWASs showed ∼220 genomic regions containing ∼650 genes. For SW under drought, 18 QTLs were identified for single- and segment-based and 35 genes by gene-based GWASs. For yield, under irrigation, 25 associations were identified, whereas under drought the total was 10 using both approaches. In addition to the consistent associations detected across experiments, these GWAS approaches provided important complementary QTL information (∼221 QTLs; 650 genes; r2 from 0.01% to 32%). Several QTLs were mined within or near candidate genes playing significant role in productivity, providing better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying these traits and making available molecular tools to be used in marker-assisted breeding. The findings also allowed the identification of genetic material (germplasm) with better yield performance under drought, promising to a common bean breeding program. Finally, the availability of this highly diverse Mesoamerican panel is of great scientific value for the analysis of any relevant traits in common bean.