Comprehensive Structural Analysis of the Genome of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Abstract

With the aim of establishing the basic knowledge and resources needed for applied genetics, we investigated the genome structure of red clover Trifolium pratense L.. The average GC content of the nuclear genome was shown to be 34.2% by analysis of 1.4 Mb of random genomic sequences. A total of 26,356 ESTs, that were grouped into 9339 non-redundant sequences, were collected. A high-density genetic linkage map of the genome was constructed using two parent plants, HR and R130, and188 F1 plants from the mapping population. As a result, a total of 1434 loci detected by 1399 markers (1286 detected by microsatellite markers and 148 by RFLP markers) were successfully mapped onto seven linkage groups totaling 868.7 cM in length. Macrosynteny at the segmental level was observed between the genomes of red clover and two model legumes, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula.