Mapping of QTLs and candidate genes associated with multiple phenotypic traits for Huanglongbing tolerance in citrus.

Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most devastating disease for citrus worldwide. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), vectored by Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama), is the most common pathogen causing the disease. Commercial citrus varieties are highly susceptible to HLB, whereas trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is considered highly tolerant to HLB. An F1 segregating population and their parent trifoliate orange and sweet orange, which had been exposed to intense HLB pressure for three years, was evaluated for disease symptoms, ACP colonization, CLas titer and tree vigor repeatedly for two to three years. Trifoliate orange and sweet orange showed significant differences for most of the phenotypic traits, and the F₁ population exhibited a large variation. A high-density SNP-based genetic map with 1 402 markers was constructed for trifoliate orange, which exhibited high synteny and high coverage of its reference genome. A total of 26 quantitative trait locus (QTLs) were identified in four linkage groups LG-t6, LG-t7, LG-t8 and LG-t9, of which four QTL clusters exhibit a clear co-localization of QTLs associated with different traits. Through genome-wide analysis of gene expression in response to CLas infection in 'Flying Dragon' and 'Larger-Flower DPI-50-7' trifoliate orange, 85 differentially expressed genes were found located within the QTL clusters. Among them, seven genes were classified as defense or immunity protein which exhibited the highest transcriptional change after CLas infection. Our results indicate a quantitative genetic nature of HLB tolerance and identified candidate genes that should be valuable for searching for genetic solutions to HLB through breeding or genetic engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]