Brassica napus Transcriptome or Gene expression

In this study we performed a transcriptome-based systems analysis of germination and seedling emergence in a panel of 42 winter-type B. napus genotypes with high, low and intermediate germination rate. Using a WGCNA approach we correlate seedling root and shoot gene expression modules to multiple germination traits, assayed in automated, high-throughput phenotyping experiments, and to multi-environment field emergence data. Seed lots from different seed production environments were also considered, adding a further layer of environmental complexity to the phenotypic correlation analyses. Genome positions of hub genes with high intramodular connectivity, identified by the WGCNA analysis, were compared to quantitative trait loci (QTL) for emergence-related traits. Candidate genes with putative network regulatory roles during seedling emergence, that also lie within QTL intervals for seed germination and vigour, provide interesting new insight into the control of this important trait complex.