Genetic basis of heterosis for yield and yield components explored by QTL mapping across four genetic populations in upland cotton

BACKGROUND: Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping provides a powerful tool to unravel the genetic bases of cotton yield and its components, as well as their heterosis. In the present study, the genetic basis underlying inbreeding depression and heterosis for yield and yield components of upland cotton was investigated in recombinant inbred line (RIL), immortalized F(2) (IF(2)), and two backcross (BCF(1)) populations based on a high-density SNP linkage map across four environments. RESULTS: Significant inbreeding depression of fruit branches per plant (FB), boll numbers per plant (BN), seed cotton yield (SY), and lint yield (LY) in RIL population and high levels of heterosis for SY, LY, and boll weight (BW) in IF(2) and two BCF(1) populations were observed. A total of 285 QTLs were identified in the four related populations using a composite interval mapping approach. In the IF(2) population, 26.60% partially dominant (PD) QTLs and 71.28% over-dominant (OD) QTLs were identified. In two BCF(1) populations, 42.41% additive QTLs, 4.19% PD QTLs, and 53.40% OD QTLs were detected. For multi-environment analysis, phenotypic variances (PV) explained by e-QTLs were higher than those by m-QTLs in each of the populations, and the average PV of m-QTLs and e-QTLs explained by QTL × environment interactions occupied a considerable proportion of total PV in all seven datasets. CONCLUSIONS: At the single-locus level, the genetic bases of heterosis varied in different populations. Partial dominance and over-dominance were the main cause of heterosis in the IF(2) population, while additive effects and over-dominance were the main genetic bases of heterosis in two BCF(1) populations. In addition, the various genetic components to heterosis presented trait specificity. In the multi-environment model analysis, epistasis was a common feature of most loci associated with inbreeding depression and heterosis. Furthermore, the environment was a critical factor in the expression of these m-QTLs and e-QTLs. Altogether, additive effects, over-dominance, epistasis and environmental interactions all contributed to the heterosis of yield and its components in upland cotton, with over-dominance and epistasis more important than the others. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5289-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.