Other project participants

Olivier Loudet, INRA Versailles, France
Christine Granier, INRA Agro Montpellier, France
Detlef Weigel, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Germany
Gunhild Leckband, Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG NPZ [Company], Germany
Jens Weyen*, Saaten Union Resistenzlabor GmbH SURL [Company], Germany
Carlos Alonso-Blanco, CSIC National Centre of Biotechnology CNB, Spain

Mapping populations derived from crosses between natural accessions of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana will be tested under conditions of abiotic stress, allowing the genetic analysis of genetic variation underlying abiotic stress tolerance. This genetic information together with the genomic information and resources available in Arabidopsis will be used to identify the genes responsible for variation in these traits. In parallel the performance of two Brassica napus (rapeseed) mapping populations will be analysed, allowing the detection of stress related QTL in this crop plant. Based on synteny between the two species the genetic and genomic information of Arabidopsis can be related to the genetic locations identified in B. napus and used to develop molecular markers allowing the application of marker assisted selection for his complicated traits in this crop species.

QTL analysis for plant growth and drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana:
Using the Phenopsis platform in Montpellier, QTLs for plant growth under drought stress were detected in the Ler x An1 population and analyzed in collaboration with the Cologne group, where these QTL are further analyzed as preparation for cloning. In the Versailles group, QTL for growth under osmotic stress were reported in three mapping populations, several of which are being followed up. The Madrid group developed a new RIL populations using an Iberian accession. This population and another one already available are being used to dissect growth (plastochron) and flowering time.

Brassica napus mapping:
The corporate partner NPZ is analyzing three Brassica napus mapping populations in field experiments, where exposure to cold and drought stress is expected to occur.

Application of the Illumina/Solexa technology:
Two Arabidopsis thaliana accessions have been (re)sequenced in Tübingen, using newly developed methods for data analysis.