Data from: Maternal environment affects the genetic basis of seed dormancy in Arabidopsis thaliana

The genetic basis of seed dormancy, a key life-history trait important for adaptive evolution in plant populations, has yet been studied only using seeds produced under controlled conditions in greenhouse environments. However, dormancy is strongly affected by maternal environmental conditions, and interactions between seed genotype and maternal environment have been reported. Consequently, the genetic basis of dormancy of seeds produced under natural field conditions remains unclear. We examined the effect of maternal environment on the genetic architecture of seed dormancy using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between two locally adapted populations of Arabidopsis thaliana from Italy and Sweden. We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) for dormancy of seeds produced in the greenhouse and at the native field sites of the parental genotypes. The Italian genotype produced seeds with stronger dormancy at fruit maturation than did the Swedish genotype in all three environments, and the maternal field environments induced higher dormancy levels compared to the greenhouse environment in both genotypes. Across the three maternal environments, a total of nine dormancy QTL were detected, three of which were only detected among seeds matured in the field, and six of which showed significant QTL × maternal environment interactions. One QTL had a large effect on dormancy across all three environments and colocalized with the candidate gene DOG1. Our results demonstrate the importance of studying the genetic basis of putatively adaptive traits under relevant conditions.

种子休眠作为影响植物种群适应性进化的关键生活史性状，其遗传基础目前仅通过温室可控环境下产生的种子开展过相关研究。然而，休眠状态受母体环境的强烈影响，且已有研究报道了种子基因型与母体环境之间的交互效应。因此，自然田间环境下产生的种子，其休眠的遗传基础仍未明确。本研究以意大利与瑞典两地本土适应性拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）杂交构建的重组自交系（recombinant inbred line, RIL）群体为材料，探究了母体环境对种子休眠遗传结构的影响。我们分别对温室环境以及亲本基因型原生境田间条件下产生的种子的休眠性状进行了数量性状位点（quantitative trait loci, QTL）定位。在三种环境下，意大利种群基因型所结种子在成熟时的休眠强度均高于瑞典种群基因型；且相较于温室环境，两种基因型在母体田间环境下的休眠水平均更高。在三种母体环境中共检测到9个种子休眠相关QTL，其中3个仅在田间成熟的种子中被检测到，另有6个位点存在显著的QTL×母体环境交互效应。其中1个位点在三种环境下均对休眠性状具有较大效应，且与候选基因DOG1存在共定位关系。本研究结果证实了在符合生物学意义的相关环境条件下研究潜在适应性性状遗传基础的重要性。