陆地棉产量相关性状QTL的Meta分析及候选基因鉴定OA

Yield is one of the primary target traits in the genetic improvement and variety breeding of upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.).Mapping quantitative trait loci(QTLs)related to yield and mining candidate genes is of great significance for en-hancing cotton yield potential through molecular breeding.Integrating reported QTLs to identify stable and major-effect QTLs and candidate genes controlling yield-related traits in upland cotton serves as the foundation and key for molecular improvement of cotton yield traits.In this study,based on 42 independent studies,a total of 3366 original QTLs related to 11 yield-related traits were collected.Using 11,242 markers,a consensus genetic map was constructed,onto which 2751 of the original QTLs were projected,leading to the identification of 209 Meta-QTLs(MQTLs)for yield traits.Among these,61 MQTL regions were vali-dated by significant SNP loci from genome-wide association studies(GWAS).Within these GWAS-co-localized MQTLs,a ma-jor-effect MQTL(MQTL6)was identified with the highest phenotypic variation explained(R2)of 18.36%,integrating 24 original quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)analyses,two candidate genes closely related to yield,GhEB1C and GhHIPP23,were screened from the MQTL6 interval.Through virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS)validation,it was found that GhEB1C primarily regulates seed and boil development,whereas GhHIPP23 simutaneously regulates seed development and lint percentage formation,indicating that both play key regulatory roles in in yield formation in upland cotton.These findings provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying yield traits in upland cotton and offer candidate gene resources for molecular breeding of high-yielding cotton varieties.