Linkage fine-mapping and QTLs affecting morpho-agronomic traits of a Mesoamerican × Andean RIL common bean population

This paper proposes the construction of a genetic linkage map with 376 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Mesoamerican × Andean common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) parents based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers; and to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with seven morpho-agronomic traits: number of days to flowering (DF), number of days to maturity (DM) or crop cycle; plant architecture (ARC); seed yield (YLD); degree of seed flatness (SF); seed shape (SS); and 100-seed weight (SW). A total of 3060 polymorphic SNP markers were used and 2041 segregated at a 1:1 ratio in the RIL population, as expected. These markers were subjected to linkage analysis in each chromosome. The genetic linkage analysis resulted in linkage maps with a total of 1962 markers spanning 1079.21 cM. A total of 29 QTLs associated with seven morpho-agronomic traits were detected on the 11 chromosomes, which explained between 3.83 and 32.92% of the phenotypic variation in DF. A total of 18 candidate genes associated with the detected QTLs were identified and related with biological processes, molecular functions and cellular components