SSR and EST-SSR-based genetic linkage map of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers provide a powerful tool for genetic linkage map construction that can be applied for identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL). In this study, a total of 640 new SSR markers were developed from an enriched genomic DNA library of the cassava variety 'Huay Bong 60' and 1,500 novel expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) loci were developed from the Genbank database. To construct a genetic linkage map of cassava, a 100 F(1) line mapping population was developed from the cross Huay Bong 60 by 'Hanatee'. Polymorphism screening between the parental lines revealed that 199 SSRs and 168 EST-SSRs were identified as novel polymorphic markers. Combining with previously developed SSRs, we report a linkage map consisted of 510 markers encompassing 1,420.3?cM, distributed on 23 linkage groups with a mean distance between markers of 4.54?cM. Comparison analysis of the SSR order on the cassava linkage map and the cassava genome sequences allowed us to locate 284 scaffolds on the genetic map. Although the number of linkage groups reported here revealed that this F(1) genetic linkage map is not yet a saturated map, it encompassed around 88% of the cassava genome indicating that the map was almost complete. Therefore, sufficient markers now exist to encompass most of the genomes and efficiently map traits in cassava.     

A Multi-Population Consensus Genetic Map Reveals Inconsistent Marker Order among Maps Likely Attributed to Structural Variations in the Apple Genome

Genetic maps serve as frameworks for determining the genetic architecture of quantitative traits, assessing structure of a genome, as well as aid in pursuing association mapping and comparative genetic studies. In this study, a dense genetic map was constructed using a high-throughput 1,536 EST-derived SNP GoldenGate genotyping platform and a global consensus map established by combining the new genetic map with four existing reliable genetic maps of apple. The consensus map identified markers with both major and minor conflicts in positioning across all five maps. These major inconsistencies among marker positions were attributed either to structural variations within the apple genome, or among mapping populations, or genotyping technical errors. These also highlighted problems in assembly and anchorage of the reference draft apple genome sequence in regions with known segmental duplications. Markers common across all five apple genetic maps resulted in successful positioning of 2875 markers, consisting of 2033 SNPs and 843 SSRs as well as other specific markers, on the global consensus map. These markers were distributed across all 17 linkage groups, with an average of 169±33 marker per linkage group and with an average distance of 0.70±0.14 cM between markers. The total length of the consensus map was 1991.38 cM with an average length of 117.14±24.43 cM per linkage group. A total of 569 SNPs were mapped onto the genetic map, consisting of 140 recombinant individuals, from our recently developed apple Oligonucleotide pool assays (OPA). The new functional SNPs, along with the dense consensus genetic map, will be useful for high resolution QTL mapping of important traits in apple and for pursuing comparative genetic studies in Rosaceae.     

High-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification and mapping in the sesame (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum indicum</Emphasis> L.) genome with genotyping by sequencing (GBS) analysis

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L. syn. Sesamum orientale L.) is considered to be the first oil seed crop known to man. Despite its versatile use as an oil seed and a leafy vegetable, sesame is a neglected crop and has not been a subject of molecular genetic research until the last decade. There is thus limited knowledge regarding genome-specific molecular markers that are indispensible for germplasm enhancement, gene identification, and marker-assisted breeding in sesame. In this study, we employed a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach to a sesame recombinant inbred line (RIL) population for high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification and genotyping. A total of 15,521 SNPs were identified with 14,786 SNPs (95.26 %) located along sesame genome assembly pseudomolecules. By incorporating sesame-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed in our previous work, 230.73 megabases (99 %) of sequence from the genome assembly were saturated with markers. This large number of markers will be available for sesame geneticists as a resource for candidate polymorphisms located along the physical chromosomes of sesame. Defining SNP loci in genome assembly sequences provides the flexibility to utilize any genotyping strategy to survey any sesame population. SNPs selected through a high stringency filtering protocol (770 SNPs) for improved map accuracy were used in conjunction with SSR markers (50 SSRs) in linkage analysis, resulting in 13 linkage groups that encompass a total genetic distance of 914 cM with 432 markers (420 SNPs, 12 SSRs). The genetic linkage map constitutes the basis for future work that will involve quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of metabolic and agronomic traits in the segregating RIL population.     

High density SNP mapping and QTL analysis for fruit quality characteristics in peach (Prunus persica L.)

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to construct an integrated SNP linkage map of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch). A set of 1,536 SNPs were evaluated with the GoldenGate® Genotyping assay in two mapping populations, Pop-DF, and Pop-DG. After genotyping and filtering, a final set of 1,400 high quality SNPs in Pop-DF and 962 in Pop-DG with full map coverage were selected and used to construct two linkage maps with JoinMap®4.0. The Pop-DF map covered 422 cM of the peach genome and included 1,037 SNP markers, and Pop-DG map covered 369 cM and included 738 SNPs. A consensus map was constructed with 588 SNP markers placed in eight linkage groups (n?=?8 for peach), with map coverage of 454 cM and an average distance of 0.81 cM/marker site. Placements of SNPs on the “peach v1.0” physical map were compared to placement on the linkage maps and several differences were observed. Using the SNP linkage map of Pop-DG and phenotypic data collected for three harvest seasons, a QTL analysis for fruit quality traits and chilling injury symptoms was carried out with the mapped SNPs. Significant QTL effects were detected for mealiness (M) and flesh bleeding (FBL) QTLs on linkage group 4 and flesh browning (FBr) on linkage group 5. This study represents one of the first examples of QTL detection for quality traits and chilling injury symptoms using a high-density SNP map in a single peach F1 family.     

Transcriptome-based single nucleotide polymorphism markers for genome mapping in Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai)

The development of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) offers the opportunity to use DNA markers for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs because of their high abundance, codominant inheritance, and potential for automated high-throughput analysis. We developed a 1,536-SNP bead array without a reference genome sequence from more than 44,000 base changes on the basis of a large-scale expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis combined with 454 genome sequencing data of Japanese pear ‘Housui’. Among the 1,536 SNPs on the array, 756 SNPs were genotyped, and 609 SNP loci were mapped to linkage groups on a genetic linkage map of ‘Housui’, based on progeny of an interspecific cross between European pear (Pyrus communis L.) ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Housui’. The newly constructed genetic linkage map consists of 951 loci, comprising 609 new SNPs, 110 pear genomic simple sequence repeats (SSRs), 25 pear EST–SSRs, 127 apple SSRs, 61 pear SNPs identified by the “potential intron polymorphism” method, and 19 other loci. The map covers 22 linkage groups spanning 1341.9 cM with an average distance of 1.41 cM between markers and is anchored to reference genetic linkage maps of European pears and apples. A total of 514 contigs containing mapped SNP loci showed significant similarity to known proteins by functional annotation analysis.     

Construction of a high-density genetic map of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ziziphus jujuba</Emphasis> Mill. using genotyping by sequencing technology

The Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill., 2n = 2 × = 24), one of the most popular fruit trees in China, is widely cultivated and utilized in Asia. High-density genetic linkage maps are valuable resources for molecular breeding and functional genomics; however, they are still under-developed for the jujube. The genotyping by sequencing (GBS) strategy could be an efficient and cost-effective tool for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery based on the sequenced jujube genome. Here, we report a new high-density genetic map constructed using GBS technology. An F1 population with 145 progenies and their parents (‘Dongzao’ × ‘Zhongningyuanzao’) were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform. In total, 79.8 Gb of raw data containing 256,708,177 paired-end reads were generated. After data filtering and SNP genotyping, 40,372 polymorphic SNP markers were developed between the parents and 2540 (1756 non-redundant) markers were mapped onto the integrated genetic linkage map. The map spanned 1456.53 cM and was distributed among 12 linkage groups, which is consistent with the haploid chromosome number of the jujube. The average marker interval was 0.88 cM. The genetic map allowed us to anchor 224 Mb (63.7 %) of scaffolds from the sequenced ‘Junzao’ genome, containing 52 newly anchored scaffolds, which extended the genome assembly by 7 Mb. In conclusion, GBS technology was applied efficiently for SNP discovery in this study. The high-density genetic map will serve as a unique tool for molecular-assisted breeding and genomic studies, which will contribute to further research and improvement of the jujube in the near future.     

Use of VeraCode 384-plex assays for watermelon diversity analysis and integrated genetic map of watermelon with single nucleotide polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world. Molecular markers have become the tools of choice for resolving watermelon taxonomic relationships and evolution. Increased numbers of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers together with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers would be useful for phylogenetic analyses of germplasm accessions and for linkage mapping for marker-assisted breeding with quantitative trait loci and single genes. We aimed to construct a genetic map based on SNPs (generated by Illumina Veracode multiplex assays for genotyping) and SSR markers and evaluate relationships inferred from SNP genotypes between 130 watermelon accessions collected throughout the world. We incorporated 282 markers (232 SNPs and 50 SSRs) into the linkage map. The genetic map consisted of 11 linkage groups spanning 924.72 cM with an average distance of 3.28 cM between markers. Because all of the SNP-containing sequences were assembled with the whole-genome sequence draft for watermelon, chromosome numbers could be readily assigned for all the linkage groups. We found that 134 SNPs were polymorphic in 130 watermelon accessions chosen for diversity studies. The current 384-plex SNP set is a powerful tool for characterizing genetic relatedness and for developing medium-resolution genetic maps.     

Construction of a SNP-based genetic linkage map for kiwifruit using next-generation restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq)

Kiwifruit is a perennial horticultural crop species of the Actinidiaceae family and has high nutritional value. For a species with a long generation time, traditional breeding and genetic improvement is predicted to take more than 20 years to obtain superior cultivars. Thus, marker-assisted selection (MAS) should be used to accelerate the breeding process. Development of a genetic linkage map and molecular markers are pre-requisites for MAS of crop species. Here, we report a genome-wide SNP-based genetic map of kiwifruit by analysing next-generation restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) reads. To construct a genetic linkage map, a 102 F1 line mapping population of Actinidia chinensis (2n = 58) was derived by combining parents that had contrasting phenotypic traits. The maternal map contained 4112 SNP loci and spanned a distance of 3821 cM, with an average adjacent-marker interval length of 0.929 cM. The map length of the 29 linkage groups ranged from 78.3 to 169.9 cM, with an average length of 131.8 cM. High levels of collinearity between the 29 genetic maps with the kiwifruit reference genome were found. The genetic map developed in this study can serve as an important platform to improve kiwifruit research, including anchoring unmapped scaffolds of the kiwifruit genome sequence and mapping QTLs (quantitative trait loci) that control economically important traits.     

A genetic map of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) with integrated physical mapping of immunity-related genes

Background

Cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz, is one of the most important crops world-wide representing the staple security for more than one billion of people. The development of dense genetic and physical maps, as the basis for implementing genetic and molecular approaches to accelerate the rate of genetic gains in breeding program represents a significant challenge. A reference genome sequence for cassava has been made recently available and community efforts are underway for improving its quality. Cassava is threatened by several pathogens, but the mechanisms of defense are far from being understood. Besides, there has been a lack of information about the number of genes related to immunity as well as their distribution and genomic organization in the cassava genome.

Results

A high dense genetic map of cassava containing 2,141 SNPs has been constructed. Eighteen linkage groups were resolved with an overall size of 2,571 cM and an average distance of 1.26 cM between markers. More than half of mapped SNPs (57.4%) are located in coding sequences. Physical mapping of scaffolds of cassava whole genome sequence draft using the mapped markers as anchors resulted in the orientation of 687 scaffolds covering 45.6% of the genome. One hundred eighty nine new scaffolds are anchored to the genetic cassava map leading to an extension of the present cassava physical map with 30.7 Mb. Comparative analysis using anchor markers showed strong co-linearity to previously reported cassava genetic and physical maps. In silico based searching for conserved domains allowed the annotation of a repertory of 1,061 cassava genes coding for immunity-related proteins (IRPs). Based on physical map of the corresponding sequencing scaffolds, unambiguous genetic localization was possible for 569 IRPs.

Conclusions

This is the first study reported so far of an integrated high density genetic map using SNPs with integrated genetic and physical localization of newly annotated immunity related genes in cassava. These data build a solid basis for future studies to map and associate markers with single loci or quantitative trait loci for agronomical important traits. The enrichment of the physical map with novel scaffolds is in line with the efforts of the cassava genome sequencing consortium.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1397-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Construction of a SNP and SSR linkage map in autotetraploid blueberry using genotyping by sequencing

The construction of the first genetic map in autotetraploid blueberry has been made possible by the development of new SNP markers developed using genotyping by sequencing in a mapping population created from a cross between two key highbush blueberry cultivars, Draper × Jewel (Vaccinium corymbosum). The novel SNP markers were supplemented with existing SSR markers to enable the alignment of parental maps.  In total, 1794 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers and 233 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers exhibited segregation patterns consistent with a random chromosomal segregation model for meiosis in an autotetraploid. Of these, 700 SNPs and 85 SSRs were utilized for construction of the ‘Draper’ genetic map, and 450 SNPs and 86 SSRs for the ‘Jewel’ map.  The ‘Draper’ map comprises 12  linkage groups (LG), associated with the haploid chromosome number for blueberry, and totals 1621 cM while the ‘Jewel’ map comprises 20 linkage groups totalling 1610 cM. Tentative alignments of the two parental maps have been made on the basis of shared SSR alleles and linkages to double-simplex markers segregating in both parents. Tentative alignments of the two parental maps have been made on the basis of shared SSR alleles and linkages to double-simplex markers segregating in both parents.     

Construction of High Density Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Linkage Maps Using Microsatellite Markers and SNPs Detected by Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS)

Linkage maps are valuable tools in genetic and genomic studies. For sweet cherry, linkage maps have been constructed using mainly microsatellite markers (SSRs) and, recently, using single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs) from a cherry 6K SNP array. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), a new methodology based on high-throughput sequencing, holds great promise for identification of high number of SNPs and construction of high density linkage maps. In this study, GBS was used to identify SNPs from an intra-specific sweet cherry cross. A total of 8,476 high quality SNPs were selected for mapping. The physical position for each SNP was determined using the peach genome, Peach v1.0, as reference, and a homogeneous distribution of markers along the eight peach scaffolds was obtained. On average, 65.6% of the SNPs were present in genic regions and 49.8% were located in exonic regions. In addition to the SNPs, a group of SSRs was also used for construction of linkage maps. Parental and consensus high density maps were constructed by genotyping 166 siblings from a ‘Rainier’ x ‘Rivedel’ (Ra x Ri) cross. Using Ra x Ri population, 462, 489 and 985 markers were mapped into eight linkage groups in ‘Rainier’, ‘Rivedel’ and the Ra x Ri map, respectively, with 80% of mapped SNPs located in genic regions. Obtained maps spanned 549.5, 582.6 and 731.3 cM for ‘Rainier’, ‘Rivedel’ and consensus maps, respectively, with an average distance of 1.2 cM between adjacent markers for both ‘Rainier’ and ‘Rivedel’ maps and of 0.7 cM for Ra x Ri map. High synteny and co-linearity was observed between obtained maps and with Peach v1.0. These new high density linkage maps provide valuable information on the sweet cherry genome, and serve as the basis for identification of QTLs and genes relevant for the breeding of the species.     

A genetic linkage map for the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor and its alignment to the whole-genome sequence assemblies

A genetic linkage map for the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor was constructed from 45 sib-homokaryotic haploid mycelial lines derived from the parental S238N strain progeny. For map construction, 294 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were employed to identify and assay loci that segregated in backcross configuration. Using SNP, RAPD and SSR sequences, the L. bicolor whole-genome sequence (WGS) assemblies were aligned onto the linkage groups. A total of 37.36 Mbp of the assembled sequences was aligned to 13 linkage groups. Most mapped genetic markers used in alignment were colinear with the sequence assemblies, indicating that both the genetic map and sequence assemblies achieved high fidelity. The resulting matrix of recombination rates between all pairs of loci was used to construct an integrated linkage map using JoinMap. The final map consisted of 13 linkage groups spanning 812 centiMorgans (cM) at an average distance of 2.76 cM between markers (range 1.9-17 cM). The WGS and the present linkage map represent an initial step towards the identification and cloning of quantitative trait loci associated with development and functioning of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.     

Genetic linkage maps of Populus nigra L. including AFLPs, SSRs, SNPs, and sex trait

Black poplar (Populus nigra L.) is a tree of ecological and economic interest. A better knowledge of P. nigra genome is needed for an effective protection and use of its genetic resources. The main objective of this study is the construction of a highly informative genetic map of P. nigra species including genes of adaptive and economic interest. Two genotypes originated from contrasted natural Italian populations were crossed to generate a F₁ mapping pedigree of 165 individuals. Amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), simple sequence repeat (SSR), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used to genotype 92 F₁ individuals, and the pseudo-test-cross strategy was applied for linkage analysis. The female parent map included 368 markers (274 AFLPs, 91 SSRs, and 3 SNPs) and spanned 2,104 cM with 20 linkage groups, and the male parent map, including 317 markers (205 AFLPs, 106 SSRs, 5 SNPs, and sex trait), spanned 2,453 cM with 23 main linkage groups. The sex, as morphological trait, was mapped on the linkage group XIX of the male parent map. The generated maps are among the most informative in SSRs when compared to the Populus maps published so far and allow a complete alignment with the 19 haploid chromosomes of Populus sequence genome. These genetic maps provide informative tools for a better understanding of P. nigra genome structure and genetic improvement of this ecologically and economically important European tree species. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Construction of a high-density SNP genetic map in flue-cured tobacco based on SLAF-seq

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., 2n = 48) is an important agronomic crop and model plant. Flue-cured tobacco is the most important type and accounts for approximately 80 % of tobacco production worldwide. The low genetic diversity of flue-cured tobacco impedes the construction of a high-density genetic linkage map using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and warrants the exploitation of single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers from genomic regions. In this article, initially using specific locus-amplified fragment sequencing, we discovered 10,891 SNPs that were subsequently used as molecular markers for genetic map construction. Combined with SSR markers, a final high-density genetic map was generated containing 4215 SNPs and 194 SSRs distributed on 24 linkage groups (LGs). The genetic map was 2662.43 cM in length, with an average distance of 0.60 cM between adjacent markers. Furthermore, by mapping the SNP markers to the ancestral genomes of Nicotiana tomentosiformis and Nicotiana sylvestris, a large number of genome rearrangements were identified as occurring after the polyploidization event. Finally, using this novel integrated map and mapping population, two major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for flue-curing and mapped to the LG6 of tobacco. This is the first report of SNP markers and a SNP-based linkage map being developed in tobacco. The high-density genetic map and QTLs related to tobacco curing will support gene/QTL fine mapping, genome sequence assembly and molecular breeding in tobacco.     

A dense single-nucleotide polymorphism-based genetic linkage map of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) anchoring Pinot Noir bacterial artificial chromosome contigs

The construction of a dense genetic map for Vitis vinifera and its anchoring to a BAC-based physical map is described: it includes 994 loci mapped onto 19 linkage groups, corresponding to the basic chromosome number of Vitis. Spanning 1245 cM with an average distance of 1.3 cM between adjacent markers, the map was generated from the segregation of 483 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genetic markers, 132 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and 379 AFLP markers in a mapping population of 94 F(1) individuals derived from a V. vinifera cross of the cultivars Syrah and Pinot Noir. Of these markers, 623 were anchored to 367 contigs that are included in a physical map produced from the same clone of Pinot Noir and covering 352 Mbp. On the basis of contigs containing two or more genetically mapped markers, region-dependent estimations of physical and recombinational distances are presented. The markers used in this study include 118 SSRs common to an integrated map derived from five segregating populations of V. vinifera. The positions of these SSR markers in the two maps are conserved across all Vitis linkage groups. The addition of SNP-based markers introduces polymorphisms that are easy to database, are useful for evolutionary studies, and significantly increase the density of the map. The map provides the most comprehensive view of the Vitis genome reported to date and will be relevant for future studies on structural and functional genomics and genetic improvement.     

High-Throughput SNP Discovery and Genotyping for Constructing a Saturated Linkage Map of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present study reports the large-scale discovery of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in chickpea, identified mainly through the next generation sequencing of two genotypes, i.e. Cicer arietinum ICC4958 and its wild progenitor C. reticulatum PI489777, parents of an inter-specific reference mapping population of chickpea. Development and validation of a high-throughput SNP genotyping assay based on Illumina''s GoldenGate Genotyping Technology and its application in building a high-resolution genetic linkage map of chickpea is described for the first time. In this study, 1022 SNPs were identified, of which 768 high-confidence SNPs were selected for designing the custom Oligo Pool All (CpOPA-I) for genotyping. Of these, 697 SNPs could be successfully used for genotyping, demonstrating a high success rate of 90.75%. Genotyping data of the 697 SNPs were compiled along with those of 368 co-dominant markers mapped in an earlier study, and a saturated genetic linkage map of chickpea was constructed. One thousand and sixty-three markers were mapped onto eight linkage groups spanning 1808.7 cM (centiMorgans) with an average inter-marker distance of 1.70 cM, thereby representing one of the most advanced maps of chickpea. The map was used for the synteny analysis of chickpea, which revealed a higher degree of synteny with the phylogenetically close Medicago than with soybean. The first set of validated SNPs and map resources developed in this study will not only facilitate QTL mapping, genome-wide association analysis and comparative mapping in legumes but also help anchor scaffolds arising out of the whole-genome sequencing of chickpea.     

Genome-wide SNP identification for the construction of a high-resolution genetic map of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus): applications to QTL mapping of Vibrio anguillarum disease resistance and comparative genomic analysis

High-resolution genetic maps are essential for fine mapping of complex traits, genome assembly, and comparative genomic analysis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the primary molecular markers used for genetic map construction. In this study, we identified 13,362 SNPs evenly distributed across the Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) genome. Of these SNPs, 12,712 high-confidence SNPs were subjected to high-throughput genotyping and assigned to 24 consensus linkage groups (LGs). The total length of the genetic linkage map was 3,497.29 cM with an average distance of 0.47 cM between loci, thereby representing the densest genetic map currently reported for Japanese flounder. Nine positive quantitative trait loci (QTLs) forming two main clusters for Vibrio anguillarum disease resistance were detected. All QTLs could explain 5.1–8.38% of the total phenotypic variation. Synteny analysis of the QTL regions on the genome assembly revealed 12 immune-related genes, among them 4 genes strongly associated with V. anguillarum disease resistance. In addition, 246 genome assembly scaffolds with an average size of 21.79 Mb were anchored onto the LGs; these scaffolds, comprising 522.99 Mb, represented 95.78% of assembled genomic sequences. The mapped assembly scaffolds in Japanese flounder were used for genome synteny analyses against zebrafish (Danio rerio) and medaka (Oryzias latipes). Flounder and medaka were found to possess almost one-to-one synteny, whereas flounder and zebrafish exhibited a multi-syntenic correspondence. The newly developed high-resolution genetic map, which will facilitate QTL mapping, scaffold assembly, and genome synteny analysis of Japanese flounder, marks a milestone in the ongoing genome project for this species.     

A genetic linkage map and comparative genome analysis of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using microsatellites and SNPs

A genetic linkage map is a powerful research tool for mapping traits of interest and is essential to understanding genome evolution. The aim of this study is to provide an expanded genetic linkage map of common carp to effectively carry out quantitative trait loci analysis and conduct comparative mapping analysis between lineages. Here, we constructed a genetic linkage map of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using microsatellite and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in a 159 sibling family. A total of 246 microsatellites and 306 SNP polymorphic markers were genotyped in this family. Linkage analysis using JoinMap 4.0 organized 427 markers (186 microsatellites and 241 SNPs) to 50 linkage groups, ranging in size from 1.4 to 130.1 cM. Each group contained 2-30 markers. The linkage map covered a genetic distance of 2,039.2 cM and the average interval for markers within the linkage groups was approximately 6.4 cM. In addition, comparative genome analysis within five model teleost fish revealed a high percentage (74.7%) of conserved loci corresponding to zebrafish chromosomes. In most cases, each zebrafish chromosome comprised two common carp linkage groups. The comparative analysis also revealed independent chromosome rearrangements in common carp and zebrafish. The linkage map will be of great assistance in mapping genes of interest and serve as a reference to approach comparative mapping and enable further insights into the comprehensive investigations of genome evolution of common carp.     

A 3.9-centimorgan-resolution human single-nucleotide polymorphism linkage map and screening set

Recent advances in technologies for high-throughout single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genotyping have improved efficiency and cost so that it is now becoming reasonable to consider the use of SNPs for genomewide linkage analysis. However, a suitable screening set of SNPs and a corresponding linkage map have yet to be described. The SNP maps described here fill this void and provide a resource for fast genome scanning for disease genes. We have evaluated 6,297 SNPs in a diversity panel composed of European Americans, African Americans, and Asians. The markers were assessed for assay robustness, suitable allele frequencies, and informativeness of multi-SNP clusters. Individuals from 56 Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain pedigrees, with >770 potentially informative meioses altogether, were genotyped with a subset of 2,988 SNPs, for map construction. Extensive genotyping-error analysis was performed, and the resulting SNP linkage map has an average map resolution of 3.9 cM, with map positions containing either a single SNP or several tightly linked SNPs. The order of markers on this map compares favorably with several other linkage and physical maps. We compared map distances between the SNP linkage map and the interpolated SNP linkage map constructed by the deCode Genetics group. We also evaluated cM/Mb distance ratios in females and males, along each chromosome, showing broadly defined regions of increased and decreased rates of recombination. Evaluations indicate that this SNP screening set is more informative than the Marshfield Clinic's commonly used microsatellite-based screening set.