Detection of QTLs for genotype × environment interactions in tomato seeds and seedlings

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment Vol. 43; no. 8; pp. 1973 - 1988
• Main Authors: Geshnizjani, Nafiseh, Snoek, Basten L., Willems, Leo A. J., Rienstra, Juriaan A., Nijveen, Harm, Hilhorst, Henk W. M., Ligterink, Wilco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.08.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Crop development; Environmental conditions; Environmental effects; Environmental factors; Gene mapping; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic factors; Genotype; Genotype-environment interactions; Genotypes; Germination; Germination - genetics; high phosphate; Inbreeding; low nitrogen; Lycopersicon esculentum - genetics; Lycopersicon esculentum - physiology; maternal environment; Molecular modelling; Nitrates - metabolism; Original; Phenotypic variations; Phosphates - metabolism; QTL × E; Quantitative Trait Loci; Seed germination; seed quality; seedling establishment; Seedlings; Seedlings - genetics; Seeds; Seeds - genetics; tomato; Tomatoes; seed quality; QTL × E; maternal environment; seedling establishment; tomato; high phosphate; low nitrogen
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.13788

Seed quality and seedling establishment are the most important factors affecting successful crop development. They depend on the genetic background and are acquired during seed maturation and therefor, affected by the maternal environment under which the seeds develop. There is little knowledge about the genetic and environmental factors that affect seed quality and seedling establishment. The aim of this study is to identify the loci and possible molecular mechanisms involved in acquisition of seed quality and how these are controlled by adverse maternal conditions. For this, we used a tomato recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 100 lines which were grown under two different nutritional environmental conditions, high phosphate and low nitrate. Most of the seed germination traits such as maximum germination percentage (Gmax), germination rate (t50) and uniformity (U8416) showed ample variation between genotypes and under different germination conditions. This phenotypic variation leads to identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) which were dependent on genetic factors, but also on the interaction with the maternal environment (QTL × E). Further studies of these QTLs may ultimately help to predict the effect of different maternal environmental conditions on seed quality and seedling establishment which will be very useful to improve the production of high‐performance seeds. The environment in which seeds develop has profound effect on seed and seedling quality. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this effect in tomato, we performed QTL analysis with a RIL population grown in different nutritional maternal environments and detected many QTLs which are dependent on both genetic factors and the maternal environment.