Fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of the major QTL qSW-A03 for seed weight in Brassica napus

Seed weight is a determining factor for improving rapeseed productivity. In the present study, a high-density genetic map was constructed via genome resequencing in an RIL population derived from a cross of two rapeseed varieties, ZS11 and DL704, with great differences in thousand-seed weight (TSW). A total of 1,306 bins involving 1,261,526 markers were used to construct the bin map. On the basis of the genetic map, QTL mapping for seed weight was performed. In total, 15 QTLs associated with TSW were detected. A major and stable QTL, qSW-A03, was mapped to a 2.8 cM interval on chromosome A03. Fine mapping delimited the qSW-A03 locus into a 59-kb region, and 11 genes within this region were predicted. By employing a combination of gene variation, gene expression difference and gene coexpression network analysis of seed weight, BnaDUF1666 was identified as a promising candidate gene. This study provides useful information for the genetic dissection of seed weight and promotes the molecular breeding of high-yield rapeseed.