Genetic mapping and QTL analysis for sugar yield-related traits in sugarcane

Genetic improvement of sugar content in sugarcane would benefit from the availability of sufficient DNA markers and a genetic map. Genetic linkage maps were constructed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for seedling brix (SB), brix (B), sucrose percent in juice (SUC), stalk number (SN), stalk length (SL), stalk diameter (SD), internodes (INT), number of green leaves (NGL), at three crop cycles across seven environments in a segregating population with 207 individuals derived from a bi-parental cross of sugarcane elite cultivars. Linkage analysis led to the construction of eight linkage groups (LGs) for Co86011 and sixteen LGs for CoH70. The combined length of the two linkage maps was 2606.77 cM distributed over 24 LGs. 31 QTLs were identified: 2 for SB, 7 for B, 6 for SUC, 4 for SN, 1 for SL, 3 for SD, 6 for INT and 2 for NGL at LOD scores ranging from 2.69 to 4.75. 7 QTLs (22 %) had stable effect across crop year and locations. Markers from parents were found to be associated with both positive and negative effect on all of the traits analyzed. The most important QTLs intervals identified in this study using single-dose marker, were qB2, qSUC2, qINT2 and qB2, qSUC2, qSL2, qINT2 located between SSR markers UGSM31(548) and UGSM31(649). These QTLs could be put into use in marker assisted breeding.