Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 197-206.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0890

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Gene Mapping of Sorghum Flowering Time and Prediction of Candidate Genes Based on BSA-seq

WANG Shang-feng1(), CHENG Bin2,3, WANG Ruo-ruo3,4, DING Yan-qing2,3, XU Jian-xia2,3, CAO Ning2,3, GAO Xu2,3, LI Wen-zhen2,3, ZHANG Li-yi2,3()   

  1. 1.College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025
    2.Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006
    3.Guizhou Key Laboratory of Biology and Breeding for Specialty Crops, Guiyang 550006
    4.Institute of Biotechnology, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006
  • Received:2025-08-18 Online:2026-02-26 Published:2026-03-17
  • Contact: ZHANG Li-yi E-mail:619684541@qq.com;lyzhang1997@hotmail.com

Abstract:

Objective Flowering time is a key target trait in sorghum breeding, significantly influencing its ecological adaptability and high-yield potential. Method An F₂ population derived from a cross between the late-flowering variety Hongyingzi and the early-flowering variety SAP001 was used for genetic mapping of flowering time. Result Phenotypic investigation revealed that the segregation ratio of late-flowering and early-flowering plants was consistent with 3∶1(χ2=0.225, P>0.05), indicating that the trait was controlled by a pair of major genes. BSA-Seq analysis of extreme early-and late-flowering lines detected a genetic locus significantly associated with flowering time within the 59.73‒60.44 Mb interval on chromosome 3. By integrating whole-genome resequencing of the parents and transcriptome data, a key candidate gene (SbiHYZ.03G218800), encoding a light-harvesting complex Ⅱ chlorophyll-binding protein, was identified as a putative novel regulator of flowering time in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)Moench). There were mutations in the binding sites of Myb/SANT and TATA-binding protein (TBP) within its promoter region, and the expression of this gene differed significantly between the parents, possibly it was a new gene regulating flowering time of sorghum. Based on SNP and InDel variations in this candidate region, a closely linked molecular marker effectively distinguishing between early- and late-flowering plants was developed. Conclusion This study preliminarily reveals the genetic basis of flowering time in Chinese liquor-brewing sorghum germplasm and provides valuable genetic resources and molecular markers for molecular breeding of sorghum maturity.

Key words: sorghum, flowering time, BSA-seq, transcriptome sequencing, candidate genes