QTL mapping and QTL × environment interaction analysis of multi-seed pod in cultivated peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.)

To dissect the genetic mechanism of multi-seed pod in peanut, we explored the QTL/gene controlling multi-seed pod and analyzed the interaction effect of QTL and environment. Two hundred and forty eight recombinant inbred lines(RIL) from cross Silihong × Jinonghei 3 were used as experimental materials planted in 8 environments from 2012 to 2017. Three methods of analysis were performed. These included individual environment analysis, joint analysis in multiple environments, and epistatic interaction analysis for multi-seed pod QTL. Phenotypic data and best linear unbiased prediction(BLUP) value of the ratio of multi-seed pods per plant(RMSP) were used for QTL mapping. Seven QTL detected by the individual environmental mapping analysis and were distributed on linkage groups 1, 6, 9, 14, 19(2), and 21. Each QTL explained 4.42%–11.51% of the phenotypic variation in multi-seed pod, and synergistic alleles of5 QTL were from the Silihong parent. One QTL, explaining 4.93% of the phenotypic variation was detected using BLUP data, and this QTL mapped in the same interval as q RMSP19.1 detected in the individual environment analysis. Seventeen additive QTL were identified by joint analysis across multiple environments. A total of 43 epistatic QTL were detected by ICIM-EPI mapping in the multiple environment trials(MET) module, and involved 57 loci. Two main-effect QTL related to multi-seed pod in peanut were filtered. We also found that RMSP had a highly significant positive correlation with pod yield per plant(PY), and epistatic effects were much more important than additive effects. These results provide theoretical guidance for the genetic improvement of germplasm resources and further fine mapping of related genes in peanut.