Characteristaion of the initial generations of recombinant inbred lines in perennial ryegrass (lolium perenne L.) using molecular markers and cytogenetics

In this study three early generations of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) breeding programme have been characterised by cytogenetic methods, metabolite profiling and a biomass quantitative trait loci (QTL) study. In situ hybridization was used to analyse recombination and the structure of the parental and the F_1 genomes. A metabolite profiling study via GC/MS was conducted to characterise the metabolite activity of the parental inbred lines and the F_1 hybrid. Total metabolites were compared across a growth season in a replicated field design. A genetic map was constructed with 75 nuclear DNA markers in the F_2 generation, which consisted of 360 individuals. 63% of the markers in the F_2 population did not fit the expected Mendelian ratios and showed significant (p<0.05) segregation distortion. Fresh weight, dry weight, and dry matter were analysed with an alpha lattice design throughout the greenhouse and field experiments. Additionally, leaf width was recorded in the greenhouse experiment. Heritablities ranged for the biomass related traits between 78 and 95%. This study provides an insight into the recombination of the parental and the F_1 genotypes. Different levels of metabolite activities could be found among the two parental inbred lines across three harvest dates. The QTL study indicates the position of biomass QTL related traits. Major QTL with log of odds scores >3 were identified on linkage groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. About 30% of overall variation could be explained. Increased biomass yield is still one of the most important traits in any Lolium perenne breeding programme. The present QTL study can be used for fine mapping of biomass yield related traits in L. perenne. In the long term biomass yield can be eventually monitored and predicted with marker assisted selection for some of the QTL identified in the present study.