Genetic analysis and associated SRAP markers for flowering traits of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

The inheritance of two flowering traits of chrysanthemum, initial blooming time and the duration of flowering, was investigated using segregation within an F ₁ population derived from a cross between the autumn-flowering ‘Yuhualuoying' and the summer-flowering ‘Aoyunhanxiao' cultivars. The analysis, based on a single segregating generation and the major gene plus polygene mixed inheritance model, showed that the inheritance of both traits was compatible with the presence of two pairs of major genes displaying additivity-dominance-epistasis, with additivity predominating. As the heritability of both pairs of major genes was high (initial blooming time ~65%, duration of flowering ~72%), it should be possible to select for both traits in early breeding generations. A marker-trait association analysis based on sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) genotyping uncovered 10 (initial blooming time) and 12 (duration of flowering) markers significantly associated with phenotype, cumulatively explaining, respectively, 46 and 54% of the variation. Some potentially useful markers were identified.