RFLP mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling seed aliphatic-glucosinolate content in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

We report the RFLP mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) which regulate the total seed aliphatic-glucosinolate content in Brassica napus L. A population of 99 F1-derived doubled-haploid (DH) recombinant lines from a cross between the cultivars Stellar (low-glucosinolate) and Major (high-glucosinolate) was used for single-marker analysis and the interval mapping of QTLs associated with total seed glucosinolates. Two major loci, GSL-1 and GSL-2, with the largest influence on total seed aliphatic-glucosinolates, were mapped onto LG 20 and LG 1, respectively. Three loci with smaller effects, GSL-3, GSL-4 and GSL-5, were tentatively mapped to LG 18, LG 4 and LG 13, respectively. The QTLs acted in an additive manner and accounted for 71% of the variation in total seed glucosinolates, with GSL-1 and GSL-2 accounting for 33% and 17%, respectively. The recombinant population had aliphatic-glucosinolate levels of between 6 and 160 micromoles per g-1 dry wt of seed. Transgressive segregation for high seed glucosinolate content was apparent in 25 individuals. These phenotypes possessed Stellar alleles at GSL-3 and Major alleles at the four other GSL loci demonstrating that low-glucosinolate genotypes (i.e. Stellar) may possess alleles for high glucosinolates which are only expressed in particular genetic backgrounds. Gsl-elong and Gsl-alk, loci which regulate the ratio of individual aliphatic glucosinolates, were also mapped. Gsl-elong-1 and Gsl-elong-2, which control elongation of the alpha-amino-acid precursors, mapped to LG 18 and LG 20 and were coincident with GSL loci which regulate total seed aliphatic glucosinolates. A third tentative QTL, which regulates side-chain elongation, was tentatively mapped to LG 12. Gsl-alk, which regulates H3CS- removal and side-chain de-saturation, mapped to LG 20.