Discovery of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with seed oil content, seed protein content, and amino acid content in Brassica napus L. meal

Abstract

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is economically significant to the Canadian agricultural industry, due to the oil content of the seed though protein quantity and quality have suffered as a result of past breeding efforts to increase oil content. Through quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, regions on A3 were discovered controlling 4.6 – 7.2 % of seed oil content and 11.6 – 12.3 % of the phenotypic variation in seed protein content. Two major QTL were discovered on C1 and C2 explaining 12.1 and 15.0 % of the phenotypic variation in cysteine content. Regions on C5 were found controlling arginine, glutamine, isoleucine, leucine and lysine contents explaining 11.0 – 14.0 % of observed variation. The same region also had control over asparagine, phenylalanine, serine and valine content explaining 7.0 – 10.0 % of phenotypic variation. These regions provide useful information for future efforts to enhance seed and meal quality in B. napus.