Domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnuts (Juglans regia)

Xiang Luo; Huijuan Zhou; Da Cao; Feng Yan; Pengpeng Chen; Jiangtao Wang; Keith Woeste; Xin Chen; Zhangjun Fei; Hong An; Maria Malvolti; Kai Ma; Chaobin Liu; Aziz Ebrahimi; Chengkui Qiao; Hang Ye; Mengdi Li; Zhenhua Lu; Jiabao Xu; Shangying Cao; Peng Zhao

doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1010513

Treesearch

Domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnuts (Juglans regia)

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Xiang Luo, Huijuan Zhou, Da Cao, Feng Yan, Pengpeng Chen, Jiangtao Wang, Keith Woeste, Xin Chen, Zhangjun Fei, Hong An, Maria Malvolti, Kai Ma, Chaobin Liu, Aziz Ebrahimi, Chengkui Qiao, Hang Ye, Mengdi Li, Zhenhua Lu, Jiabao Xu, Shangying Cao, Peng Zhao

Year:

2022

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1010513

Source:

PLOS Genetics

Download (PDF 2.75 MB)

Download (PDF 2.75 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/69501.pdf

Abstract

Walnut (Juglans) species are economically important hardwood trees. The Persian walnut as a woody nut crop is limited by an incomplete understanding of the diversity and spatial genetic structure of the species’ wild germplasm, and the relationship of the secondary germplasm pool of walnut (wild and landrace walnuts) to improved cultivars. To better understand walnut’s breeding, we sequenced the genomes of 309 walnut accessions from around the world. The results revealed core areas of genetic diversity of Persian walnut germplasm were southwestern China and southern Asia near the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Himalayas. The genome-wide scan for selective sweeps, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and expression analysis identified JrbHLH and JrMYB6 transcript factors related to the thickness of the diaphragm that were under selection during domestication. Our results elucidate the genetic diversity of walnut and its evolution as a species and a crop. We identified centers of wild genetic diversity that could contribute to breeding and sustainable improvement.

Keywords

Walnut, Juglans, genome, nuts, evolution, domestication

Citation

Luo, Xiang; Zhou, Huijuan; Cao, Da; Yan, Feng; Chen, Pengpeng; Wang, Jiangtao; Woeste, Keith; Chen, Xin; Fei, Zhangjun; An, Hong; Malvolti, Maria; Ma, Kai; Liu, Chaobin; Ebrahimi, Aziz; Qiao, Chengkui; Ye, Hang; Li, Mengdi; Lu, Zhenhua; Xu, Jiabao; Cao, Shangying; Zhao, Peng. 2022. Domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnuts (Juglans regia). PLOS Genetics. 18(12): e1010513. 19 p. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1010513.