Hereditas

Construction of a high-density genetic map: genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to map purple seed coat color (Psc) in hulless barley

Seed coat color is an important agronomic trait for the breeding and study of hulless barley as the colored varieties are more suitable for food processing compared to normal (yellow) varieties because they are rich in bioactive compounds and produce higher extraction pearling fractions. Yao et al. performed a genotyping-by-sequencing single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis of a doubled haploid mapping population to map the purple seed coat color genes (Psc).  Five structural candidate genes and one regulatory factor related to flavonoid or anthocyanin biosynthesis have been identified using a high-density genetic map of hulless barley. This study lays the foundation for map-based cloning of Psc by providing a valuable tool for studying marker-trait associations and its application to marker-assisted breeding of hulless barley.