High-density linkage map construction and identification of loci regulating fruit quality traits in blueberry

Molla F Mengist; Hamed Bostan; Elisheba Young; Kristine L Kay; Nicholas Gillitt; James Ballington; Colin D Kay; Mario G Ferruzzi; Hamid Ashrafi; Mary Ann Lila; Massimo Iorizzo

doi:10.1038/s41438-021-00605-z

High-density linkage map construction and identification of loci regulating fruit quality traits in blueberry

Hortic Res. 2021 Aug 1;8(1):169. doi: 10.1038/s41438-021-00605-z.

Authors

Molla F Mengist¹, Hamed Bostan¹, Elisheba Young², Kristine L Kay³, Nicholas Gillitt³, James Ballington², Colin D Kay^{1

4}, Mario G Ferruzzi^{1

4}, Hamid Ashrafi², Mary Ann Lila^{1

4}, Massimo Iorizzo^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, USA.
² Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
³ David H. Murdock Research Institute, Kannapolis, NC, USA.
⁴ Department of Food Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
⁵ Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, USA. miorizz@ncsu.edu.
⁶ Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. miorizz@ncsu.edu.

Abstract

Fruit quality traits play a significant role in consumer preferences and consumption in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L). The objectives of this study were to construct a high-density linkage map and to identify the underlying genetic basis of fruit quality traits in blueberry. A total of 287 F₁ individuals derived from a cross between two southern highbush blueberry cultivars, 'Reveille' and 'Arlen', were phenotyped over three years (2016-2018) for fruit quality-related traits, including titratable acidity, pH, total soluble solids, and fruit weight. A high-density linkage map was constructed using 17k single nucleotide polymorphisms markers. The linkage map spanned a total of 1397 cM with an average inter-loci distance of 0.08 cM. The quantitative trait loci interval mapping based on the hidden Markov model identified 18 loci for fruit quality traits, including seven loci for fruit weight, three loci for titratable acidity, five loci for pH, and three loci for total soluble solids. Ten of these loci were detected in more than one year. These loci explained phenotypic variance ranging from 7 to 28% for titratable acidity and total soluble solid, and 8-13% for pH. However, the loci identified for fruit weight did not explain more than 10% of the phenotypic variance. We also reported the association between fruit quality traits and metabolites detected by Proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis directly responsible for these fruit quality traits. Organic acids, citric acid, and quinic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with titratable acidity. Sugar molecules showed a strong and positive correlation with total soluble solids. Overall, the study dissected the genetic basis of fruit quality traits and established an association between these fruit quality traits and metabolites.