QTL Mapping for Domestication-Related Characteristics in Field Cress (Lepidium campestre)—A Novel Oil Crop for the Subarctic Region

Abstract

Domestication of a new crop requires identification and improvement of desirable characteristics Field cress (Lepidium campestre) is being domesticated as a new oilseed crop, particularly for northern temperate regions.. In the present study, an F2 mapping population and its F3 progenies were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for plant height (PH), number of stems per plant (NS), stem growth orientation (SO), flowering habit (FH), earliness (ER), seed yield per plant (SY), pod shattering resistance (SHR), and perenniality (PE). A highly significant correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between several pairs of characteristics, including SY and ER (negative) or ER and PE (positive). The inclusive composite interval mapping approach was used for QTL mapping using 2330 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers mapped across the eight field cress linkage groups. Nine QTLs were identified with NS, PH, SO, and PE having 3, 3, 2, and 1 QTLs, explaining 21.3%, 29.5%, 3.8%, and 7.2% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. Candidate genes behind three of the QTLs and favorable marker alleles for different classes of each characteristic were identified. Following their validation through further study, the identified QTLs and associated favorable marker alleles can be used in marker-aided breeding to speed up the domestication of field cress.

Evolutionary Genetics of Crop-Wild Complexes

“…Data Availability Statement: For original datasets, please refer to the published articles [13][14][15][16][17] within the Special Issue "Evolutionary Genetics of Plant Crop-Wild Complexes: From Fundamental to Applied Research" (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/genes/special_issues/Plant_Crop_Wild).…”

“…Similarly, Hammenhag et al [ 14 ] reconstructed the genomic architecture of recent ongoing domestication in field cress ( Lepidium campestre ), a promising oil crop for the subarctic. The authors genotyped 380 genotypes of an F 2 mapping population, and its F 3 progenies, for a total of 2330 GBS-derived SNP markers.…”

“…The pillars of such discussion include the need to: (1) monitor and forecast gender and generation gaps to shrink disparity over time, (2) fund long-term synergies to leverage plant resources independent of market trends [ 45 ], (3) bridge plant germplasm resources with plant breeding [ 46 ], and (4) encourage joint training programs in last-generation technologies to speed up breeding cycles [ 18 ] and mitigate tradeoffs [ 47 ]. In parallel, it is necessary to find innovative bio-economical uses (such as was carried out by Hammenhag et al [ 14 ]), and to (5) harness neglected or underutilized species [ 48 ] as a source of new [ 49 ] and future [ 37 ] crops (as envisioned by Buitrago-Bitar et al [ 15 ] and Thapa et al [ 13 ]). We look forward to seeing future research implementing these recommendations on crop–wild complexes [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”

“…Transversal ‘big data’ tools (Ψ) [ 16 ], and consolidated research networks [ 17 ], promise promoting research integration around crop wild systems across the multi-dimensional space shaped by fundamental questions (e.g., nature and timing of domestication events, X -axis), and more applied research (e.g., underutilized/understudied crops with potential nutritional and bio-economical value, Y -axis). Specifically, genomic prediction (GP) [ 18 ], genomic-assisted back-crossing (GABC), and machine learning (ML) tools [ 16 ], boosted by open-access research networks (OA-RN) [ 17 ], would allow cohesive learning from early domestication (e.g., amaranth species [ 13 ]), and modern breeding (e.g., field cress, L. campestre [ 14 ]). Additionally, ‘big data’ and OA-RN will enable to unlock more efficiently variation hidden at crop wild complexes with nutritional value (e.g., Phaseolus bean species [ 15 ]), and those with a more industrial perspective (e.g., field cress, a promising oil crop for the subarctic [ 14 ]).…”

“…Therefore, the goal of this Special Issue was to summarize fundamental and applied approaches on the evolutionary genetics in crop species and their CWR. Specifically, this compilation offers new insights into: (1) the evolutionary genetics of CWR [ 13 ] and the genomic consequences of domestication [ 14 ], (2) the role of crop–wild gene flow in adaptation [ 15 ], the utility to breed wild resources for climate change [ 16 ], and the necessity to consolidate open-source scientific networks [ 17 ] targeting underutilized/understudied plant resources.…”