Molecular mapping and identification of quantitative trait loci for domestication traits in field cress (Lepidium campestre L.) genome

Lepidium campestre (L.) or field cress is a multifaceted oilseed plant, which has not been domesticated yet. Moreover, the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the domestication traits of field cress remain largely elusive. The overarching goal is to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that are fundamental for domestication of field cress. Mapping and dissecting quantitative trait variation may provide important insights into genomic trajectories underlying field cress domestication. We used 7624 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for QTL mapping in 428 F2 interspecific hybrid individuals, whilst field phenotyping was conducted in F2:3 segregating families. We applied multiple QTL mapping algorithms to detect and estimate QTL effects for seven important domestication traits of field cress. Verification of pod shattering across sites revealed that the non-shattering lines declined drastically whereas the shattering lines increased sharply, possibly due to inbreeding f...