Deletion-based physical mapping of barley chromosome 7H

Chromosomal mutations in barley (Hordeum vulgare, 2n=2x=14, HH) chromosome 7H added to the common wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n=6x=42, AABBDD) cultivar Chinese Spring were induced genetically by the gametocidal activity of certain alien chromosomes derived from wild species of the genus Aegilops. The rearranged barley chromosomes were characterized by C-banding, FISH and GISH. Twenty two deletion or translocation chromosomes in a hemizygous condition were selected for deletion mapping of 17 AFLP and 28 STS markers that are specific to 7H. Of the 22 breakpoints in chromosome 7H, seven involved the short arm (7HS), 12 the long arm (7HL) and three were in the centromeric region. The seven 7HS breakpoints separated all four 7HS-specific AFLP markers and split the 21 STS markers into six groups. One breakpoint occurred between two STS markers formerly occupying the same position in the genetic map. All seven 7HS breakpoints were separated from each other by either the AFLP or STS markers. The 12 breakpoints in 7HL divided the 13 7HL-specific AFLP markers into seven groups, and the seven STS markers into three groups. On the other hand, the 12 breakpoints in 7HL were divided into six groups by the AFLP markers and into two groups by the STS markers. This deletion-based map was in accordance with previously published genetic and physical maps using the same STS markers. The breakpoints, AFLP markers and STS markers were arrayed in a consistent order. Received: 5 February 2001 / Accepted: 19 February 2001     

Linkage mapping in populations with karyotypic rearrangements

A simulation study was used to examine the consequences of karyotypic rearrangements on molecular genetic map construction. Two groups of 50 datasets were created for F2 populations segregating for a reciprocal translocation of chromosomal segments or a reciprocal translocation and inversion. Multiple attempts were made to construct maps for each dataset using MapMaker/EXP. As expected, the markers from segments involved in the translocation formed one linkage group. Maps that corresponded to the known marker order within a segment could be constructed by the following method. The separation of markers distal to the translocation breakpoints into their respective segments could be made by constructing multiple maps, using distinct orders of marker entry, and observing the variances in intermarker distances: variances between pairs of markers from the same segment were an order of magnitude less compared to pairs where markers were from different segments. The order of markers within a segment could be determined from combining the pairwise linkage results from multiple maps, or from maps including all markers from a segment. No bias in map distances was observed. These results indicate that, under conditions similar to those tested, genetic maps corresponding to the segments conserved in translocations can be constructed.     

Development of a new SSR-based linkage map in apricot and analysis of synteny with existing Prunus maps

Linkage maps of the apricot accessions ‘Lito’ and ‘BO 81604311’ were constructed using a total of 185 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers sampled from those isolated in peach, almond, apricot and cherry; 74 were derived from a new apricot genomic library enriched for AG/CT microsatellite repeats (UDAp series), and in total, 98 had never been mapped in Prunus before. Eight linkage groups putatively corresponding to the eight haploid apricot chromosomes were identified for each parent. The two maps were 504 and 620 cM long, respectively, with 96 anchor markers showing a complete co-linearity between the two genomes. As few as three gaps larger than 15 cM were present in ‘Lito’ and six in the male parent; the maps align well with all the available SSR-based Prunus maps through the many common anchor loci. Only occasionally inverted positions between adjacent markers were found, and this can be explained by the small size of cross populations analysed in these Prunus maps and in those reported in literature. The newly developed apricot SSRs will help saturating the existing Prunus maps and will extend the choice of markers in the development of genetic maps for new breeding populations.     

A reciprocal translocation between ’Garfi’ almond and ’Nemared’ peach

A map with 51 markers (46 RFLPs and five isozymes) was constructed using an interspecific F₂ population between ’Garfi’ almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch.) and ’Nemared’ peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.]. This map was developed by selecting markers covering most of the distance of the eight linkage groups from previously constructed Prunus maps. The markers studied in this population mapped to seven linkage groups instead of the eight expected in Prunus. Markers belonging to groups 6 and 8 in previous maps formed a single group in the ’Garfi’×’Nemared’ F₂ and several marker pairs placed in different groups in other maps exhibited tight linkages. The study of pollen fertility and chromosome behavior during meiosis in the F₁ generation allowed us to confirm the hypothesis that a reciprocal translocation exists between ’Garfi’ and ’Nemared’. Based on independent evidence of linkage between markers and pollen fertility data in the F₂ population, we concluded that the breakpoint of the reciprocal translocation was placed between markers AC50 and AG26A in group 6 and between markers AG112A and FG230A in group 8. Received: 28 June 2000 / Accepted: 17 October 2000     

Genetic linkage map of ISSR and RAPD markers in Einkorn wheat in relation to that of RFLP markers

 The potential of PCR-based markers for construction of a genetic linkage map in Einkorn wheat was investigated. From a comparison of polymorphisms between two Einkorn wheats, Triticum monococcum (Mn) and T. boeoticum (Bt), we obtained 49 polymorphic bands produced by 33 primers for inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and 36 polymorphic bands shown by 25 combinations of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers for mapping in 66 individuals in the F₂ population. Although 44 ISSR fragments and 29 RAPD fragments statistically showed a 3 : 1 segregation ratio in the F₂ population, only 9 markers each of the ISSR and RAPD bands were able to be mapped on the RFLP linkage map of Einkorn wheat. ISSR markers were distributed throughout the chromosomes. The mapped positions of the ISSR markers seemed to be similar to those obtained by the RFLP markers. On the other hand, 4 of the 9 RAPD markers could map the RFLP marker-poor region on the short arm of 3A^m, suggesting a potential to map novel regions containing repetitive sequences. Comparisons of the genetic linkage map of Einkorn wheat to the linkage map and cytological map of common wheat revealed that the marker orders between the two maps of Einkorn wheat and common wheat coincided except for 4A, which harbors chromosome rearrangements specific for polyploid wheats, indicating a conservatism between the two genomes. Recombinations in Einkorn wheat chromosomes took place more frequently around the centromere and less at the distal part of chromosomes in comparison to those in common wheat. Nevertheless, recombinations even in Einkorn wheat chromosomes were strongly suppressed around the centromere. In fact, the markers located within 1 cM of the centromere were located almost in the central part of the chromosome arm. Received: 7 June 1997 / Accepted: 17 June 1997     

Comparative genomics, marker density and statistical analysis of chromosome rearrangements

Estimates of the number of chromosomal breakpoints that have arisen (e.g., by translocation and inversion) in the evolutionary past between two species and their common ancestor can be made by comparing map positions of marker loci. Statistical methods for doing so are based on a random-breakage model of chromosomal rearrangement. The model treats all modes of chromosome rearrangement alike, and it assumes that chromosome boundaries and breakpoints are distributed randomly along a single genomic interval. Here we use simulation and numerical analysis to test the validity of these model assumptions. Mean estimates of numbers of breakpoints are close to those expected under the random-breakage model when marker density is high relative to the amount of chromosomal rearrangement and when rearrangements occur by translocation alone. But when marker density is low relative to the number of chromosomes, and when rearrangements occur by both translocation and inversion, the number of breakpoints is underestimated. The underestimate arises because rearranged segments may contain markers, yet the rearranged segments may, nevertheless, be undetected. Variances of the estimate of numbers of breakpoints decrease rapidly as markers are added to the comparative maps, but are less influenced by the number or type of chromosomal rearrangement separating the species. Variances obtained with simulated genomes comprised of chromosomes of equal length are substantially lower than those obtained when chromosome size is unconstrained. Statistical power for detecting heterogeneity in the rate of chromosomal rearrangement is also investigated. Results are interpreted with respect to the amount of marker information required to make accurate inferences about chromosomal evolution.     

Cytologically integrated physical restriction fragment length polymorphism maps for the barley genome based on translocation breakpoints

We have developed a new technique for the physical mapping of barley chromosomes using microdissected translocation chromosomes for PCR with sequence-tagged site primers derived from >300 genetically mapped RFLP probes. The positions of 240 translocation breakpoints were integrated as physical landmarks into linkage maps of the seven barley chromosomes. This strategy proved to be highly efficient in relating physical to genetic distances. A very heterogeneous distribution of recombination rates was found along individual chromosomes. Recombination is mainly confined to a few relatively small areas spaced by large segments in which recombination is severely suppressed. The regions of highest recombination frequency (相似文献   

植物细胞遗传图及其应用

细胞遗传图（cytogenetic map）综合了来自遗传图（genetic map）和细胞学图（cytological map）两方面的信息,它既能反映基因或DNA标记之间在染色体上的真实距离,又能显示它们与染色体的细胞学结构间确切的位置关系。构建植物细胞遗传图的宗旨是将遗传图上的诸多标记与其在染色体的具体位置联系起来。目前主要有两种方法用于细胞遗传图的构建。较广泛使用的一种方法是借助染色体断点来确定遗传标记在染色体上的位置,另一种方法是利用荧光原位杂交（FISH）直接把DNA序列定位到染色体上。此外,利用RN-cM图也可以把遗传标记定位于粗线期染色体。从细胞遗传图可以看出,染色体两臂的远端有较高的基因密度和重组频率。细胞遗传图在比较近缘植物基因组的同线性、揭示植物的进化关系、研究基因定位克隆等方面都有重要意义.     

Integration of the Physical and Genetic Linkage Map for Human Chromosome 13

We have used a panel of somatic cell hybrids containing different rearrangements of human chromosome 13 to integrate genetic and physical maps of this chromosome. The positions of 17 translocation/deletion breakpoints on human chromosome 13 have been determined relative to the microsatellite markers on the genetic linkage map compiled by Généthon. Because markers on maps from several other Consortium groups have also been analyzed using many of the same hybrids, it was possible to relate these with the Généthon map. The position of all of the chromosome breakpoints have been placed, wherever possible, between two adjacent markers on the genetic linkage maps using PCR analysis for the presence/absence of the markers in the somatic cell hybrids. The positions of the breakpoints have already been determined cytogenetically, and some of these breakpoints are located at landmark positions on the chromosome. The relative density of markers along the chromosome differs between independently derived maps, and, based on the known locations of certain breakpoints in the physical map, inconsistencies in the genetic maps have been identified.     

Analysis of the distribution of marker classes in a genetic linkage map: a case study in Norway spruce (Picea abies karst)

In order to analyze the large-scale structure of the genome of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.), a pseudo-testcross genetic linkage map was built using markers of six different types, belonging to the low (amplified fragment length polymorphisms, simple sequence repeats) or high (sequence-specific amplified polymorphisms, inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphisms) copy-number fraction of the genome, and including expressed region-derived markers (expressed sequence tag polymorphisms). Twenty seven and 23 linkage groups of at least four markers were obtained for the female and the male parent maps, respectively. A subset of these linkage groups coalesced into 13 bi-parental linkage groups through markers shared between the two maps. This map was used to investigate the frequency of each marker type over chromosomes and the distribution of marker types relative to each other, using autocorrelation techniques. Our results show that, while the composition of chromosomes is homogeneous, low- and high-copy-number markers tend to occupy separate regions of the linkage groups, and that expressed sequences are preferentially associated with microsatellites and separated from retrotransposons. These results indicate that the spatial structure of Norway spruce chromosomes is not homogeneous. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

Construction of an integrated pepper map using RFLP,SSR, CAPS,AFLP, WRKY,rRAMP, and BAC end sequences

Map-based cloning to find genes of interest, markerassisted selection (MAS), and marker-assisted breeding (MAB) all require good genetic maps with high reproducible markers. For map construction as well as chromosome assignment, development of single copy PCR-based markers and map integration process are necessary. In this study, the 132 markers (57 STS from BAC-end sequences, 13 STS from RFLP, and 62 SSR) were newly developed as single copy type PCR-based markers. They were used together with 1830 markers previously developed in our lab to construct an integrated map with the Joinmap 3.0 program. This integrated map contained 169 SSR, 354 RFLP, 23 STS from BAC-end sequences, 6 STS from RFLP, 152 AFLP, 51 WRKY, and 99 rRAMP markers on 12 chromosomes. The integrated map contained four genetic maps of two interspecific (Capsicum annuum ‘TF68’ and C. chinense ‘Habanero’) and two intraspecific (C. annuum ‘CM334’ and C. annuum ‘Chilsungcho’) populations of peppers. This constructed integrated map consisted of 805 markers (map distance of 1858 cM) in interspecific populations and 745 markers (map distance of 1892 cM) in intraspecific populations. The used pepper STS were first developed from end sequences of BAC clones from Capsicum annuum ‘CM334’. This integrated map will provide useful information for construction of future pepper genetic maps and for assignment of linkage groups to pepper chromosomes.     

C-banding polymorphism and linkage of nonhomoeologous RFLP loci in the D genome progenitor of wheat.

Chromosomes from four different accessions of Triticum tauschii, used as parents in generating F2 populations for RFLP genetic linkage map construction, were analyzed by C-banding. The accessions consist of the varietal taxa strangulata (AUS 21929) and meyeri (AUS 18911), and two genotypes of var. typica (AUS 18902 and CPI 110730 from Iran and Afghanistan, respectively). Chromosomes 1D and 7D of T. tauschii var. typica AUS 18902 are involved in a reciprocal interchange forming translocated chromosomes, T1DS.7DL and T7DS.1DL, with tbe breakpoints being located within the centrometric region. The formation of quadrivalent configuration in F1 hybrids provided further confirmation of the reciprocal translocation. Genetic linkage mapping of additional RFLP markers located on homoeologous group 1 and 7 chromosomes showed consistent linkage to a composite group of proximal markers on chromosomes 1D and 7D of a previously published map derived from the F2 progeny of AUS 18902 x AUS 18911. A high frequency of RFLP genotypes transmitted by the translocation parent was prevalent in the proximal regions of chromosomes 1D and 7D. Genotypic frequencies expected of the nontranslocated parental RFLP markers was evident only in the distal regions of these chromosomes.     

A cytogenetic ladder-map of the wheat homoeologous group-4 chromosomes

We report the results of chromosome maps of wheat homoeologous chromosomes 4A, 4B, and 4D using 40 RFLP markers and 39 homozygous deletion lines. Deletion breakpoints divide the chromosomes into 45 subarm intervals with 32 intervals distinguished by molecular markers. The chromosome maps confirm the homoeology of arms 4AS to 4BL and 4DL, and 4AL to 4BS and 4DS. The chromosome map of 4A reveals novel information concerning the 4AL-5AL-7BS cyclical translocation. The presence of homoeologous group-4 long-arm markers, Xksu G10 and Xpsr 1051, intervening between the translocated 5AL and 7BS chromosome segments in 4AL suggests that the translocation events are more complex than was earlier believed. Chromosome maps confirm a pericentric inversion in Chinese Spring chromosome 4B. The consensus chromosome map is compared to the genetic map of wheat to construct a cytogenetic ladder-map (CLM). The CLM reveals an unequal distribution of recombination along the length of the chromosome arms. Recombination is highest in the distal half, and low in the proximal half, of the chromosome arms.     

A genetic linkage map of durum wheat

 A genetic linkage map of tetraploid wheat [Triticum turgidum (L.) Thell.] was constructed using segregation data from a population of 65 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the durum wheat cultivar Messapia and accession MG4343 of T. turgidum (L.) Thell. ssp dicoccoides (Korn.) Thell. A total of 259 loci were analysed, including 244 restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), one PCR (polymerase chain reaction) marker (a sequence coding for a LMW (low-molecular-weight) glutenin subunit gene located at the Glu-B3 locus), seven biochemical (six seed-storage protein loci and one isozyme locus) and seven morphological markers. A total of 213 loci were mapped at a LOD≥3 on all 14 chromosomes of the A and B genomes. The total length of the map is 1352 cM and the average distance between adjacent markers is 6.3 cM. Forty six loci could not be mapped at a LOD≥3. A fraction (18.6%) of the markers deviated significantly from the expected Mendelian ratios; clusters of loci showing distorted segregation were found on chromosomes 1B, 3AL, 4AL, 6AL and 7AL. The durum wheat map was compared with the published maps of bread wheat using several common RFLP markers and general features are discussed. The markers detected the known structural rearrangements involving chromosomes 4A, 5A and 7B as well as the translocation between 2B-6B, but not the deletion on 2BS. This map provides a useful tool for analysing and breeding economically important quantitative traits and for marker-assisted selection, as well as for studies of genome organisation in small grain cereal species. Received: 5 January 1998 / Accepted: 31 March 1998     

Triticum turgidum L. 6A and 6B recombinant substitution lines: extended linkage maps and characterization of residual background alien genetic variation

  Triticum turgidum L. var ‘durum’ cv ‘Langdon’-T. t. var ‘dicoccoides’ chromosome 6A and 6B recombinant substitution lines (RSLs) and a F₂ population derived from a ‘Langdon’-T. t. var ‘dicoccoides’ disomic chromosome 6A substitution lineבLangdon’ cross were analyzed with the objective of markedly increasing the number of markers assigned to and the resolution of previously constructed 6A and 6B linkage maps. Fifty-seven markers were added to the 6A RSL-population map, which now consists of 73 markers that span 111 cM, and 40 markers were added to the 6B RSL-population map, which now consists of 56 markers that span 123 cM. With the exception of 2 6B loci, all of the loci on the two RSL-population maps were ordered at a LOD score ≥3.0. Thirty-seven orthologous markers were mapped in the two chromosomes and colinearity between them is strongly indicated. The 6A RSL-population map and the F₂-population map are highly similar, indicating that the former population, which consists of 66 lines, can be reliably used for mapping, as was previously demonstrated for the 6B RSL population. In the absence of selection and genetic drift, the lines in a RSL population, except at loci in the substituted/recombined chromosome, should be near-isogenic. An unexpected finding was that at least 26 and possibly 29 of the RFLPs detected in the RSL populations (18% of the markers analyzed) are not located in the substituted/recombined chromosomes. Linkage analysis of the markers disclosed that at least 19 of them are located in six or seven segments that span approximately 10 cM and 17 cM of the genetic lengths of 6B and 6A, respectively, in the 6A and 6B RSL populations, respectively, a finding that suggests that 40 or more alien segments spanning 8–15% of the genetic length of the 13 unsubstituted chromosomes are present in both of the RSL populations. Alien alleles are fixed in many RSLs for most of the markers, in most cases at a frequency consistent with theoretical expectations. Highly distorted segregation favoring the alien allele was detected for all of the markers in 2 of the segments, however. Nine of the markers were among those mapped in the substituted/recombined chromosomes; the linkage data obtained for the other 10 was sufficient to assign them to approximate map positions. Received: 12 June 1997 / Accepted: 6 October 1997     

Aligning male and female linkage maps of apple (Malus pumila Mill.) using multi-allelic markers

 Linkage maps for the apple cultivars ‘Prima’ and ‘Fiesta’ were constructed using RFLP, RAPD, isozyme, AFLP, SCAR and microsatellite markers in a ‘Prima’בFiesta’ progeny of 152 individuals. Seventeen linkage groups, putatively corresponding to the seventeen haploid apple chromosomes, were obtained for each parent. These maps were aligned using 67 multi-allelic markers that were heterozygous in both parents. A large number of duplicate RFLP loci was observed and, in several instances, linked RFLP markers in one linkage group showed corresponding linkage in another linkage group. Distorted segregation was observed mainly in two regions of the genome, especially in the male parent alleles. Map positions were provided for resistance genes to scab and rosy leaf curling aphid (Vf and Sd ₁, respectively) for the fruit acidity gene Ma and for the self-incompatibility locus S. The high marker density and large number of mapped codominant RFLPs and some microsatellite markers make this map an ideal reference map for use in other progenies also and a valuable tool for the mapping of quantitative trait loci. Received: 17 November 1997 / Accepted: 9 December 1997     

Dissection of the nuclear genome of barley by chromosome flow sorting

Isolation of mitotic chromosomes using flow cytometry is an attractive way to dissect nuclear genomes into their individual chromosomal components or portions of them. This approach is especially useful in plants with complex genomes, where it offers a targeted and hence economical approach to genome analysis and gene cloning. In several plant species, DNA of flow-sorted chromosomes has been used for isolation of molecular markers from specific genome regions, for physical mapping using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), for integration of genetic and physical maps and for construction of chromosome-specific DNA libraries, including those cloned in bacterial artificial chromosome vectors. Until now, chromosome analysis and sorting using flow cytometry (flow cytogenetics) has found little application in barley (2n = 14, 1C ∼ 5,100 Mbp) because of the impossibility of discriminating and sorting individual chromosomes, except for the smallest chromosome 1H and some translocation chromosomes with DNA content significantly different from the remaining chromosomes. In this work, we demonstrate that wheat–barley ditelosomic addition lines can be used to sort any arm of barley chromosomes 2H–7H. Thus, the barley genome can be dissected into fractions representing only about 6–12% of the total genome. This advance makes the flow cytogenetics an attractive tool, which may greatly facilitate genome analysis and gene cloning in barley.     

Linkage maps of the apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh.) cvs ‘Ralls Janet’ and ‘Delicious’ include newly developed EST markers

Two apple genetic linkage maps were constructed using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), simple sequence repeats (SSRs), random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), and expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived markers in combination with a pseudo-testcross mapping strategy in which the cultivars ‘Ralls Janet’ and ‘Delicious’ were used as the respective seed parents. Mitsubakaido (Malus sieboldii) was used as the pollen parent for each of the segregating F₁ populations. Expressed sequence tag data were obtained from the random sequencing of cDNA libraries constructed from in vitro cultured shoots and maturing fruits of cv ‘Fuji’, which is the offspring of a cross between ‘Ralls Janet’ and ‘Delicious’. In addition, a number of published gene sequences were used to develop markers for mapping. The ‘Ralls Janet’ map consisted of 346 markers (178 AFLPs, 95 RAPDs, 54 SSRs, 18 ESTs, and the S locus) in 17 linkage groups, with a total length of 1082 cM, while that of ‘Delicious’ comprised 300 markers (120 AFLPs, 81 RAPDs, 64 SSRs, 32 ESTs, and the S, Rf, and MdACS-1 loci) on 17 linkage groups spanning 1031 cM. These maps are amenable to comparisons with previously published maps of ‘Fiesta’ and ‘Discovery’ (Liebhard et al., Mol Breed 10:217–241, 2002; Liebhard et al., Theor Appl Genet 106:1497–1508, 2003a) because several of the SSRs (one to three markers per linkage group) were used in all of the maps. Distorted marker segregation was observed in three and two regions of the ‘Ralls Janet’ and ‘Delicious’ maps, respectively. These regions were localized in different parts of the genome from those in previously reported apple linkage maps. This marker distortion may be dependent on the combinations of cultivars used for map construction.     

Genetic linkage map in sour cherry using RFLP markers

 Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) linkage maps of two tetraploid sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L., 2n=4x=32) cultivars, Rheinische Schattenmorelle (RS) and Erdi Botermo (EB), were constructed from 86 progeny from the cross RS×EB. The RS linkage map consists of 126 single-dose restriction fragment (SDRF, Wu et al. 1992) markers assigned to 19 linkage groups covering 461.6 cM. The EB linkage map has 95 SDRF markers assigned to 16 linkage groups covering 279.2 cM. Fifty three markers mapped in both parents were used as bridges between both maps and 13 sets of homologous linkage groups were identified. Homoeologous relationships among the sour cherry linkage groups could not be determined because only 15 probes identified duplicate loci. Fifty nine of the markers on the linkage maps were detected with probes used in other Prunus genetic linkage maps. Four of the sour cherry linkage groups may be homologous with four of the eight genetic linkage groups identified in peach and almond. Twenty one fragments expected to segregate in a 1 : 1 ratio segregated in a 2 : 1 ratio. Three of these fragments were used in the final map construction because they all mapped to the same linkage group. Six fragments exhibited segregation consistent with the expectations of intergenomic pairing and/or recombination. Received: 1 April 1998 / Accepted: 9 June 1998     

Analysis of complex leaf and flower characters in Rhododendron using a molecular linkage map

 A molecular linkage map of Rhododendron has been constructed by using a segregating population from an interspecific cross. Parent-specific maps based on 239 RAPD, 38 RFLP, and two microsatellite markers were aligned using markers heterozygous in both parents. The map of the male parent ‘Cunningham’s White’ comprised 182 DNA markers in 13 linkage groups corresponding to the basic chromosome number. In the female parent ‘Rh 16’ 168 markers were located on 18 linkage groups. An assignment of putative homologous linkage groups was possible for 11 groups of each parent. QTL analyses based on the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test were performed for the characters “leaf chlorosis” and “flower colour” scored as quantitative traits. For leaf chlorosis, two genomic regions bearing QTLs with significant effects on the trait were identified on two linkage groups of the chlorosis-tolerant parent. RAPD marker analysis of additional lime-stressed genotypes tested under altered environmental conditions verified the relationship between marker allele frequencies and the expression of chlorosis. Highly significant QTL effects for flower colour were found on two chromosomes indicating major genes located in these genome areas. The prospects for utilization of a linkage map in Rhododendron are discussed. Received: 28 September 1998 / Accepted: 5 November 1998