Mapping quantitative trait loci for yield-related traits in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis)

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) is one of the most important vegetables in China. However, the inheritance of yield-related traits in Chinese cabbage is poorly understood to date. To map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for yield-related traits in Chinese cabbage, a genetic linkage map was constructed with 192 doubled haploid (DH) lines. The genetic map was constructed based on 190 sequence-related amplified polymorphisms and 43 simple sequence repeats. QTL mapping was conducted for 11 yield-related traits in 170 DH lines derived from a cross between two diverse Chinese cabbage lines, ‘WZ’ and ‘FT’, under different environmental conditions. A total of 46 main QTL (M-QTL) and 7 epistatic QTL (E-QTL) were identified. The phenotypic variation explained by each M-QTL and E-QTL ranged from 4.85 to 25.06 % and 1.85 to 13.29 %, respectively. The QTL-by-environment interactions were detected using the QTLNetwork 2.0 program in joint analyses of multi-environment phenotypic values. The phenotypic variation explained by each QTL and by QTL × environment interaction was 1.14–4.24 % and 0.00–1.26 %, respectively. Our results provide a better understanding of the genetic factors controlling leaf and head-related traits in Chinese cabbage.