Genotyping of polyploid plants using quantitative PCR: application in the breeding of white-fleshed triploid loquats (Eriobotrya japonica).

Background: Ploidy manipulation is effective in seedless loquat breeding, in which flesh color is a key agronomic and economic trait. Few techniques are currently available for detecting the genotypes of polyploids in plants, but this ability is essential for most genetic research and molecular breeding.

Results: We developed a system for genotyping by quantitative PCR (qPCR) that allowed flesh color genotyping in multiple tetraploid and triploid loquat varieties (lines). The analysis of 13 different ratios of DNA mixtures between two homozygous diploids (AA and aa) showed that the proportion of allele A has a high correlation (R = 0.9992) with parameter b [b = a/(a + a)], which is derived from the two normalized allele signals (a and a) provided by qPCR. Cluster analysis and variance analysis from simulating triploid and tetraploid hybrids provided completely correct allelic configurations. Four genotypes (AAA, AAa, Aaa, aaa) were found in triploid loquats, and four (AAAA, AAAa, AAaa, Aaaa; absence of aaaa homozygotes) were found in tetraploid loquats. DNA markers analysis showed that the segregation of flesh color in all F hybrids conformed to Mendel's law. When tetraploid B431 was the female parent, more white-fleshed triploids occurred among the progeny.

Conclusions: qPCR can detect the flesh color genotypes of loquat polyploids and provides an alternative method for analyzing polyploid genotype and breeding, dose effects and allele-specific expression.