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Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is an allotetraploid (AACC, 2n ​= ​38) crop, valued for its edible oil and protein content. seed yield and nutritional composition of rapeseed are influenced by its yield and oil quality traits. However, the genetic basis of yield-related and oil-quality traits remain ambiguous. A panel of 266 diversified oilseed rape accessions was genotyped using 223 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers covering all 19 chromosomes to identify significant markers associated with yield and quality traits. Twelve yield-related and six quality traits were investigated in two consecutive years (2014 and 2015), with three replications in two environments (Changshun, CS; and Qinghe, QH). Using the model GLM with population structure and kinship (Q ​+ ​K), a total of 25 significant SSR markers (P ​

Rapeseed, an allotetraploid oil crop, provides vegetable oil for human consumption. The growing demand for oilseeds has necessitated the development of rapeseed varieties with improved quality. Therefore, a clear understanding of the genetic basis underlying the seed oil content (SOC) is required. In this study, a natural population comprising 204 diverse accessions and recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from Brassica napus and Sinapis alba via distant hybridization were collected for genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of the SOC trait, respectively. The variable coefficient of the RIL and natural populations ranged from 7.43 to 10.43% and 8.40 to 10.91%. Then, a high-density linkage map was constructed based on whole genome re-sequencing (WGS); the map harbored 2,799 bin markers and covered a total distance of 1,835.21 cM, with an average marker interval of 0.66 cM. The QTLs for SOC on chromosome A07 were stably detected in both single and multiple environments. Finally, a novel locus qA07.SOC was identified as the major QTL for SOC based on the GWAS and RIL populations. In addition, the RNA-seq results showed that photosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis proteins, fatty acid metabolism, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis were significantly different between the developed seeds of the two parents of the RIL population. By comparing the variation information and expression levels of the syntenic genes within qA07.SOC and its syntenic genomic regions, as well as through haplotype analysis via GWAS, BnaA07.STR18, BnaA07.NRT1, and BnaA07g12880D were predicted as candidate genes in the qA07.SOC interval. These stable QTLs containing candidate genes and haplotypes can potentially provide a reliable basis for marker-assisted selection in B. napus breeding for SOC.

Hypersensitive-induced reaction (HIR) proteins, which are members of the proliferation, ion and death (PID) superfamily, have been shown to be involved in the defense responses of several plant species. In this study, three HIR-like genes from soybean, designated as GmHIR1, GmHIR3 and GmHIR4, were cloned and characterized. They each contained four introns and five exons and shared conservative structure of genomic organization. The deduced polypeptide sequences of GmHIRs share high degrees of similarity with HIR proteins of other species. However, QRT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression levels in different tissues were not the identical. The expression of GmHIRs were rapidly induced by Phytophthora sojae infection in the resistant genotype, while induction was very weak in the susceptible genotype. In addition, the expression of these genes were also repressed by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment. Promoter analysis indicates that several defense-responsive elements are present in the GmHIR promoter. To our knowledge, this is the first report on molecular cloning and initial characterization of HIR-like genes in soybean. This study may help elucidate soybean disease resistance, which would enhance efforts to control soybean Phytophthora root and stem rot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As members of a super gene family, WRKY transcription factors are widely distributed in higher plants. In this study, bioinformatic analysis of WRKY35, a member of the WRKy gene family, was carried out. Results indicated that transcription factor WRKY35 harbors a WRKYGQK core domain and a Cys2His2 or Cys2His/Cys zinc finger in the 5' end without transmembrane domain. After PCR amplification and restriction digestion, WRKY35 gene fragment was ligated to prokaryotic expression vector PET28. This study provided basis for expression analysis of WRKY35 protein and subsequent functional identification of WRKY35 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]