A genetic linkage map of Populus adenopoda Maxim. x P. alba L. hybrid based on SSR and SRAP markers

Populus adenopoda Maxim. and P. alba L. [section Populus (aspen), genus Populus] are two tree species of ecological and economic value. To date, no high-density genetic maps are available for these two species. In this study, 1100 interspecific hybrids were obtained by controlled crossing and embryo culture. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) and sequence-related amplified polymorphisms (SRAP) were used to genotype 189 F-1 individuals. The genetic linkage map of P. adenopoda x P. alba generated from this study includes 212 markers (192 SSRs and 50 SRAPs) and consists of 26 linkage groups spanning 2178.5 cM, with an average distance of 11.7 cM between markers. This is the first SSR- and SRAP-containing genetic linkage map for aspen. The SSRs on the map will serve both as bridges for comparison with the poplar maps published to date and as a direct link to the Populus genomic sequence. Future studies focusing on the data presented here should enhance the density and precision of the map for identifying and localizing quantitative trait loci and promote genomic research on the genus.