| 1. |
- Baison, John, et al.
(author)
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Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) identified novel candidate loci affecting wood formation in Norway spruce
- 2019
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In: The Plant Journal. - : Wiley. - 0960-7412 .- 1365-313X. ; 100:1, s. 83-100
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Norway spruce is a boreal forest tree species of significant ecological and economic importance. Hence there is a strong imperative to dissect the genetics underlying important wood quality traits in the species. We performed a functional Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) of 17 wood traits in Norway spruce using 178101 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated from exome genotyping of 517 mother trees. The wood traits were defined using functional modelling of wood properties across annual growth rings.We applied a LASSO based association mapping method using a functional multi-locus mapping approach that utilizes latent traits, with a stability selection probability method as the hypothesis testing approach to determine significant Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs). The analysis provided 52 significant SNPs from 39 candidate genes, including genes previously implicated in wood formation and tree growth in spruce and other species. Our study represents a multi-locus GWAS for complex wood traits in Norway spruce. The results advance our understanding of the genetics influencing wood traits and identifies candidate genes for future functional studies.
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| 2. |
- Baison, John, et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide association study identified novel candidate loci affecting wood formation in Norway spruce
- 2019
-
In: The Plant Journal. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0960-7412 .- 1365-313X. ; 100:1, s. 83-100
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Norway spruce is a boreal forest tree species of significant ecological and economic importance. Hence there is a strong imperative to dissect the genetics underlying important wood quality traits in the species. We performed a functional genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 17 wood traits in Norway spruce using 178 101 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated from exome genotyping of 517 mother trees. The wood traits were defined using functional modelling of wood properties across annual growth rings. We applied a Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO-based) association mapping method using a functional multilocus mapping approach that utilizes latent traits, with a stability selection probability method as the hypothesis testing approach to determine a significant quantitative trait locus. The analysis provided 52 significant SNPs from 39 candidate genes, including genes previously implicated in wood formation and tree growth in spruce and other species. Our study represents a multilocus GWAS for complex wood traits in Norway spruce. The results advance our understanding of the genetics influencing wood traits and identifies candidate genes for future functional studies.
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| 3. |
- Bernhardsson, Carolina, et al.
(author)
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An Ultra-Dense Haploid Genetic Map for Evaluating the Highly Fragmented Genome Assembly of Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
- 2019
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In: G3. - : Genetics Society of America. - 2160-1836. ; 9:5, s. 1623-1632
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is a conifer species of substanital economic and ecological importance. In common with most conifers, the P. abies genome is very large (similar to 20 Gbp) and contains a high fraction of repetitive DNA. The current P. abies genome assembly (v1.0) covers approximately 60% of the total genome size but is highly fragmented, consisting of >10 million scaffolds. The genome annotation contains 66,632 gene models that are at least partially validated (), however, the fragmented nature of the assembly means that there is currently little information available on how these genes are physically distributed over the 12 P. abies chromosomes. By creating an ultra-dense genetic linkage map, we anchored and ordered scaffolds into linkage groups, which complements the fine-scale information available in assembly contigs. Our ultra-dense haploid consensus genetic map consists of 21,056 markers derived from 14,336 scaffolds that contain 17,079 gene models (25.6% of the validated gene models) that we have anchored to the 12 linkage groups. We used data from three independent component maps, as well as comparisons with previously published Picea maps to evaluate the accuracy and marker ordering of the linkage groups. We demonstrate that approximately 3.8% of the anchored scaffolds and 1.6% of the gene models covered by the consensus map have likely assembly errors as they contain genetic markers that map to different regions within or between linkage groups. We further evaluate the utility of the genetic map for the conifer research community by using an independent data set of unrelated individuals to assess genome-wide variation in genetic diversity using the genomic regions anchored to linkage groups. The results show that our map is sufficiently dense to enable detailed evolutionary analyses across the P. abies genome.
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| 4. |
- Calleja-Rodriguez, Ainhoa, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of the efficiency of genomic versus pedigree predictions for growth and wood quality traits in Scots pine
- 2020
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In: BMC Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2164. ; 21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Genomic selection (GS) or genomic prediction is a promising approach for tree breeding to obtain higher genetic gains by shortening time of progeny testing in breeding programs. As proof-of-concept for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), a genomic prediction study was conducted with 694 individuals representing 183 full-sib families that were genotyped with genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and phenotyped for growth and wood quality traits. 8719 SNPs were used to compare different genomic with pedigree prediction models. Additionally, four prediction efficiency methods were used to evaluate the impact of genomic breeding value estimations by assigning diverse ratios of training and validation sets, as well as several subsets of SNP markers. Results Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP) and Bayesian Ridge Regression (BRR) combined with expectation maximization (EM) imputation algorithm showed slightly higher prediction efficiencies than Pedigree Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (PBLUP) and Bayesian LASSO, with some exceptions. A subset of approximately 6000 SNP markers, was enough to provide similar prediction efficiencies as the full set of 8719 markers. Additionally, prediction efficiencies of genomic models were enough to achieve a higher selection response, that varied between 50-143% higher than the traditional pedigree-based selection. Conclusions Although prediction efficiencies were similar for genomic and pedigree models, the relative selection response was doubled for genomic models by assuming that earlier selections can be done at the seedling stage, reducing the progeny testing time, thus shortening the breeding cycle length roughly by 50%.
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| 5. |
- Chen, Zhiqiang, et al.
(author)
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Accuracy of genomic selection for growth and wood quality traits in two control-pollinated progeny trials using exome capture as the genotyping platform in Norway spruce
- 2018
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In: BMC Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2164. ; 19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundGenomic selection (GS) can increase genetic gain by reducing the length of breeding cycle in forest trees. Here we genotyped 1370 control-pollinated progeny trees from 128 full-sib families in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), using exome capture as genotyping platform. We used 116,765 high-quality SNPs to develop genomic prediction models for tree height and wood quality traits. We assessed the impact of different genomic prediction methods, genotype-by-environment interaction (GxE), genetic composition, size of the training and validation set, relatedness, and number of SNPs on accuracy and predictive ability (PA) of GS.ResultsUsing G matrix slightly altered heritability estimates relative to pedigree-based method. GS accuracies were about 11-14% lower than those based on pedigree-based selection. The efficiency of GS per year varied from 1.71 to 1.78, compared to that of the pedigree-based model if breeding cycle length was halved using GS. Height GS accuracy decreased to more than 30% while using one site as training for GS prediction and using this model to predict the second site, indicating that GxE for tree height should be accommodated in model fitting. Using a half-sib family structure instead of full-sib structure led to a significant reduction in GS accuracy and PA. The full-sib family structure needed only 750 markers to reach similar accuracy and PA, as compared to 100,000 markers required for the half-sib family, indicating that maintaining the high relatedness in the model improves accuracy and PA. Using 4000-8000 markers in full-sib family structure was sufficient to obtain GS model accuracy and PA for tree height and wood quality traits, almost equivalent to that obtained with all markers.ConclusionsThe study indicates that GS would be efficient in reducing generation time of breeding cycle in conifer tree breeding program that requires long-term progeny testing. The sufficient number of trees within-family (16 for growth and 12 for wood quality traits) and number of SNPs (8000) are required for GS with full-sib family relationship. GS methods had little impact on GS efficiency for growth and wood quality traits. GS model should incorporate GxE effect when a strong GxE is detected.
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| 6. |
- Chen, Zhiqiang, et al.
(author)
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Increased Prediction Ability in Norway Spruce Trials Using a Marker X Environment Interaction and Non-Additive Genomic Selection Model
- 2019
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In: Journal of Heredity. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0022-1503 .- 1465-7333. ; 110, s. 830-843
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A genomic selection study of growth and wood quality traits is reported based on control-pollinated Norway spruce families established in 2 Northern Swedish trials at 2 locations using exome capture as a genotyping platform. Nonadditive effects including dominance and first-order epistatic interactions (including additive-by-additive, dominance-by-dominance, and additive-by-dominance) and marker-by-environment interaction (MxE) effects were dissected in genomic and phenotypic selection models. Genomic selection models partitioned additive and nonadditive genetic variances more precisely than pedigree-based models. In addition, predictive ability in GS was substantially increased by including dominance and slightly increased by including MxE effects when these effects are significant. For velocity, response to genomic selection per year increased up to 78.9/80.8%, 86.9/82.9%, and 91.3/88.2% compared with response to phenotypic selection per year when genomic selection was based on 1) main marker effects (M), 2) M + MxE effects (A), and 3) A + dominance effects (AD) for sites 1 and 2, respectively. This indicates that including MxE and dominance effects not only improves genetic parameter estimates but also when they are significant may improve the genetic gain. For tree height, Pilodyn, and modulus of elasticity (MOE), response to genomic selection per year improved up to 68.9%, 91.3%, and 92.6% compared with response to phenotypic selection per year, respectively.
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| 7. |
- Elfstrand, Malin, et al.
(author)
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Association genetics identifies a specifically regulated Norway spruce laccase gene, PaLAC5, linked to Heterobasidion parviporum resistance
- 2020
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In: Plant, Cell and Environment. - : Wiley. - 0140-7791 .- 1365-3040. ; 43, s. 1779-1791
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is important to improve the understanding of the interactions between the trees and pathogens and integrate this knowledge about disease resistance into tree breeding programs. The conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies) is an important species for the forest industry in Europe. Its major pathogen is Heterobasidion parviporum, causing stem and root rot.In this study, we identified 11 Norway spruce QTLs (Quantitative trait loci) that correlate with variation in resistance to H. parviporum in a population of 466 trees by association genetics. Individual QTLs explained between 2.1 and 5.2% of the phenotypic variance. The expression of candidate genes associated with the QTLs was analysed in silico and in response to H. parviporum hypothesizing that (a) candidate genes linked to control of fungal sapwood growth are more commonly expressed in sapwood, and; (b) candidate genes associated with induced defences are respond to H. parviporum inoculation. The Norway spruce laccase PaLAC5 associated with control of lesion length development is likely to be involved in the induced defences. Expression analyses showed that PaLAC5 responds specifically and strongly in close proximity to the H. parviporum inoculation. Thus, PaLAC5 may be associated with the lignosuberized boundary zone formation in bark adjacent to the inoculation site.
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| 8. |
- Elfstrand, Malin, et al.
(author)
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Genotypic variation in Norway spruce correlates to fungal communities in vegetative buds
- 2020
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In: Molecular Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0962-1083 .- 1365-294X. ; 29, s. 199-213
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The taxonomically diverse phyllosphere fungi inhabit leaves of plants. Thus, apart from the fungi's dispersal capacities and environmental factors, the assembly of the phyllosphere community associated with a given host plant depends on factors encoded by the host's genome. The host genetic factors and their influence on the assembly of phyllosphere communities under natural conditions are poorly understood, especially in trees. Recent work indicates that Norway spruce (Picea abies) vegetative buds harbour active fungal communities, but these are hitherto largely uncharacterized. This study combines internal transcribed spacer sequencing of the fungal communities associated with dormant vegetative buds with a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 478 unrelated Norway spruce trees. The aim was to detect host loci associated with variation in the fungal communities across the population, and to identify loci correlating with the presence of specific, latent, pathogens. The fungal communities were dominated by known Norway spruce phyllosphere endophytes and pathogens. We identified six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the relative abundance of the dominating taxa (i.e., top 1% most abundant taxa). Three additional QTLs associated with colonization by the spruce needle cast pathogen Lirula macrospora or the cherry spruce rust (Thekopsora areolata) in asymptomatic tissues were detected. The identification of the nine QTLs shows that the genetic variation in Norway spruce influences the fungal community in dormant buds and that mechanisms underlying the assembly of the communities and the colonization of latent pathogens in trees may be uncovered by combining molecular identification of fungi with GWAS.
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| 9. |
- Li, Lili, et al.
(author)
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Recent introductions, ancient recolonization events and local adaptation: a first fine-scale mapping of the population genetic structure of Norway spruce across Sweden
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Population genetic structure matters for a large range of issues: it is intrinsically related to speciation and local adaptation, it informs us on past demography, it conditions the response of populations to climate change or to the spread of diseases and it severely limits the power of genome wide association studies (GWAS). In the present study we genotyped all individuals from the base population of the Swedish P. abies breeding program using exome capture. In total 4769 individuals were genotyped. This very large and dense sampling along a latitudinal gradient ranging from 55°N to 67°N, together with a large number of polymorphisms (>300,000 SNPs) allowed us to analyze population genetic structure at an unprecedented scale and to test for associations between genetic polymorphisms and environmental variables We used clustering methods (PCA, Admixture) to obtain a first genetic clustering of the data. Moreover, in order to better capture the mixture of discrete and continuous processes that generated the distribution of the genetic variation of Norway spruce across Sweden two recently developed spatialized analyses (conStruct, EEMS) were also performed. The overall data comprises both trees of Swedish origin and a large number of trees recently introduced into Sweden from the rest of the range and is highly structured with a total of six clusters representing the main postglacial refugia and admixed populations originating from the refugia. Focusing on the trees of Swedish origin, the data shows that those can be divided into two main clusters with a contact zone in central Sweden and a third small cluster in northern Sweden. The contact zone is also observed in other species and likely reflects the meeting point of the two main waves of recolonization of Scandinavia after the Last Glacial Maximum. As to the northernmost cluster it was characterized by a high contribution from P. obovata. A large number of SNPs were found to be associated to environmental variables and exhibited a stronger pattern of isolation-by-distance than random SNP. Considering that P. abies has been in Sweden for less than 50 generations, this suggests a strong selection pressure during the expansion of the species through Scandinavia.
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