Genomic regions associated with salinity tolerance in lowland switchgrass

Abstract Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising candidate species for sustainable biofuel feedstock production on marginal land. Soil salinity one of the significant factors that limits agricultural worldwide including substantial reduction in biomass yield switchgrass. This study was designed to assess genetic variation lowland switchgrass and identify genomic regions contributing an increased level tolerance using subset (550 pseudo F 2 ) nested association mapping (NAM) population. Salinity evaluated based salt injury score (SIS) 1 9 scale (1 = most tolerant, sensitive) stress index (STI) calculated from plant height measurements. Substantial among NAM families genotypes within observed p < .05) SIS. However, no evident STI. The accessions EG 1104–1, 1104–2 displayed high SIS which can be used as source material cultivar development. A total five quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with were detected by composite interval four chromosomes 2B, 6B, 7B, 9B. phenotypic explained individual QTL ranged 1.4 6.5%. additive effects −0.07 0.63. Homologs genes identified, reported tolerance.