Co-linearity and divergence of the A subgenome of Brassica juncea compared with other Brassica species carrying different A subgenomes

Background: There are three basic Brassica genomes (A, B, and C) and three parallel sets of subgenomes distinguished in the diploid Brassica (i.e.: B. rapa, ArAr; B. nigra, BniBni; B. oleracea, CoCo) and the derived allotetraploid species (i.e.: B. juncea, AjAjBjBj; B. napus, AnAnCnCn; B. carinata, BcBcCcCc). To understand subgenome differentiation in B. juncea in comparison to other A genome-carrying Brassica species (B. rapa and B. napus), we constructed a dense genetic linkage map of B. juncea, and conducted population genetic analysis on diverse lines of the three A-genome carrying Brassica species using a genotyping-by-sequencing approach (DArT-seq). Results: A dense genetic linkage map of B. juncea was constructed using an F2 population derived from Sichuan Yellow/Purple Mustard. The map included 3329 DArT-seq markers on 18 linkage groups and covered 1579 cM with an average density of two markers per cM. Based on this map and the alignment of the marker sequences with the physical...