Abstract
Panicle traits exhibit quantitative variation controlled by genes, the
environment, and their interaction. In switchgrass, a perennial biofuel
crop, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and QTL x E
interactions controlling panicle architecture could aid breeding efforts
and cultivar development by impacting seed productivity. In this study,
we evaluate the genetic architecture of panicle traits including panicle
length, primary branching number, and secondary branching number in an
outcrossing switchgrass population grown across ten field sites in the
central United States. We evaluated pleiotropic relationships between
panicle traits and flowering time, tiller production and biomass. We
also identified environmental factors correlated with QTL x E
interactions and potential candidate genes underlying panicle trait QTL
in switchgrass. Overall, our multi-environment mixed QTL model detected
18 QTL for panicle traits. Twelve of the QTL exhibited consistent
effects (i.e., no QTL x E), and most (4 of 6) of the effects with QTL x
E exhibited condition-specific effects. Many of the QTL x E effects were
associated with yearly mean temperature and photoperiod. Panicle QTL
co-localized with previously identified flowering time QTL and candidate
genes associated with flowering, supporting a pleiotropic model of
panicle development based on shared developmental genetics and responses
to environmental signals.