Use of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to identify, locate and map major genes and quantitative trait loci involved with in vitro regeneration ability in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Landsberg erecta x Columbia recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of Arabidop sis have been used in order to identify and localize chromosome regions inv olved in the genetic control of the in vitro regeneration ability. Callus m orphology (CM) and shoot regeneration (SR) traits have been considered for both leaf and root explants. The MAPMAKER analysis of leaf culture data has revealed at least one chromosome region involved with CM and several with SR, the 29-30 region of chromosome 1 being common for the two traits. Root explants did not segregate for CM but several QTLs have been detected for S R. The chromosome regions involved with leaf culture regeneration seem to b e different from those of root cultures, although the regeneration of abnor mal shoots in leaf explants share two chromosome regions with the regenerat ion of normal shoots in root cultures.