Genetics of anthocyanin biosynthesis in sunflower

Abstract

In sunflower, anthocyanin and pericarp pigment loci that are either horticulturally important or tightly linked to other agronomically important loci have been identified by genetic mapping. The present study focuses on identifying and mapping candidate genes for these previously mapped loci. A comparative genomic approach was employed to map and isolate the candidate gene, chalcone isomerase, for an anthocyanin pericarp pigment locus and a stem pigment locus positioned on LG15. Additionally, mapping populations were created and analyzed for segregating anthocyanin pigment traits. By using microsatellite markers and bulk segregant analysis (BSA), these traits were genetically mapped. Prior establishment of T as a dominant gene located on LG11 was re-affirmed by mapping this gene in three separate populations. Additionally, two novel genes, Sb and St, were mapped to LG12 and LG15, respectively, and shown to be epistatically interacting with T in one mapping population.