Mapping quantitative trait loci for leaf and heading-related traits in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinesis)

The inheritance of leaf and heading-related traits in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) are poorly understood since only a handful of studies of these traits are available till date. In this study, QTL mapping was done for seven leaf and heading related traits that includes gross weight, number of non-wrapper leaves, head weight, head length, head width, head length/head width ratio, and the number of head-forming leaves in 139 F3 families derived from a cross between two diverse Chinese cabbage lines, ‘501’ with small head and ‘601’ with large head. A total of 27 QTL spread over the nine linkage groups were identified for seven leaf and head-related traits, many of which showed major effects clustered in A2, A4, A6, and A8. The results provided a better understanding of the genetic factors controlling leaf and head-related traits in Chinese cabbage.