Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile Color

Coleoptile is a sheath-like structure unique to monocots and is easily observed in sorghum. Colored coleoptiles have been shown to protect plants against abiotic and biotic stresses. The purpose of this study was to identify factors controlling coleoptile color in sorghum. We phenotyped the sorghum...

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Main Authors: Kai Wang, Lihua Wang, Qi Shen, Lu Hu, Zhichao Xing, Yihong Wang, Jieqin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/688
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author Kai Wang
Lihua Wang
Qi Shen
Lu Hu
Zhichao Xing
Yihong Wang
Jieqin Li
author_facet Kai Wang
Lihua Wang
Qi Shen
Lu Hu
Zhichao Xing
Yihong Wang
Jieqin Li
author_sort Kai Wang
collection DOAJ
description Coleoptile is a sheath-like structure unique to monocots and is easily observed in sorghum. Colored coleoptiles have been shown to protect plants against abiotic and biotic stresses. The purpose of this study was to identify factors controlling coleoptile color in sorghum. We phenotyped the sorghum mini core accessions for coleoptile color in two environments, determined the anthocyanin content of each color of selected accessions, carried out a genome-wide association analysis and identified a candidate gene. The phenotypic analysis showed that 95 (40% of 235) accessions were green, 28 (12%) were purple and 42 (18%) were red in both 2022 and 2023. About 12% of the accessions changed from green to red due to environmental conditions. The anthocyanin content analysis showed a positive correlation between intensity of coleoptile color and anthocyanin levels. A genome-wide association analysis identified two candidate genes, <i>Sobic.006G175700</i> and <i>Sobic.006G175500</i>, mapped to this trait in a single locus on chromosome 6. An orthologous comparison, together with mapping, sequence analysis and qPCR, identified <i>Sobic.006G175700</i> as <i>Rs1</i>, the gene determining the sorghum coleoptile color. The haplotype analysis with SNPs from both coding and upstream regions of <i>Sobic.006G175700</i> indicates that the predominant haplotypes can differentiate between green and colored coleoptile colors. This information can be used for marker-assisted selection of desired coleoptile colors in sorghum.
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spelling doaj-art-1e73e591ce5f4cb8be8daa5158a63b092025-08-20T03:40:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-03-0115368810.3390/agronomy15030688Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile ColorKai Wang0Lihua Wang1Qi Shen2Lu Hu3Zhichao Xing4Yihong Wang5Jieqin Li6College of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaAnhui Province International Joint Research Center of Forage Bio-Breeding, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaColeoptile is a sheath-like structure unique to monocots and is easily observed in sorghum. Colored coleoptiles have been shown to protect plants against abiotic and biotic stresses. The purpose of this study was to identify factors controlling coleoptile color in sorghum. We phenotyped the sorghum mini core accessions for coleoptile color in two environments, determined the anthocyanin content of each color of selected accessions, carried out a genome-wide association analysis and identified a candidate gene. The phenotypic analysis showed that 95 (40% of 235) accessions were green, 28 (12%) were purple and 42 (18%) were red in both 2022 and 2023. About 12% of the accessions changed from green to red due to environmental conditions. The anthocyanin content analysis showed a positive correlation between intensity of coleoptile color and anthocyanin levels. A genome-wide association analysis identified two candidate genes, <i>Sobic.006G175700</i> and <i>Sobic.006G175500</i>, mapped to this trait in a single locus on chromosome 6. An orthologous comparison, together with mapping, sequence analysis and qPCR, identified <i>Sobic.006G175700</i> as <i>Rs1</i>, the gene determining the sorghum coleoptile color. The haplotype analysis with SNPs from both coding and upstream regions of <i>Sobic.006G175700</i> indicates that the predominant haplotypes can differentiate between green and colored coleoptile colors. This information can be used for marker-assisted selection of desired coleoptile colors in sorghum.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/688sorghumcoleoptile coloranthocyanin contentGWAS
spellingShingle Kai Wang
Lihua Wang
Qi Shen
Lu Hu
Zhichao Xing
Yihong Wang
Jieqin Li
Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile Color
Agronomy
sorghum
coleoptile color
anthocyanin content
GWAS
title Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile Color
title_full Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile Color
title_fullStr Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile Color
title_full_unstemmed Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile Color
title_short Association Analysis and Identification of Candidate Genes for Sorghum Coleoptile Color
title_sort association analysis and identification of candidate genes for sorghum coleoptile color
topic sorghum
coleoptile color
anthocyanin content
GWAS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/688
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