Relation between protein markers and quantitative traits in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster AIT.)
Résumé
Eighteen maritime pines (Pinus pinaster AIT.) were genotyp-ed at 84 loci using 2-dimensional electrophoresis of total protein contained in their haploid megagametophyte. These trees were also characterised for megagametophyte weight and for 49 traits related to young and adult growth of their progenies. Three loci were associated to megagametophyte weight. The genotype of the trees at 17 loci was significantly associated to different growth traits. Among these 17 loci, there were more loci responsible for quantitative variation of polypeptide spots than what would have been expected by chance only. The significance of these associations is discussed and the relevance of 2-dimensional electrophoresis of protein for the study of quantitative traits genetics is outlined.