**2.1. Materials**

In this study, the mapping population included 114 RILs derived from two cultivars of *Arabidopsis*. The main phenotype of the LER cultivar includes round leaves, short petiole, short pedicel, flowers clustered at inflorescence tips, short pod width, sharp tip, inflorescence compact, and a plant height of 10–25 cm. The general traits of the SHA cultivar are described in The *Arabidopsis* Information Resource database as a slightly narrow leaf with a height of about 30 cm. To ensure adequate seeds for the sustainability of the material, each RIL carried out a generation of expansion. For the sterilization of *Arabidopsis* seeds, the seeds were shaken in a centrifuge tube with 10% sodium hypochlorite for 6 min; 1 ml of 95% alcohol was then added, and the tubes were shaken for 5 min. The seeds were rinsed 5–6 times to thoroughly wash away the remaining sodium hypochlorite solution on the seed surface. The alcohol was poured out, and the tubes were dried at a super clean bench to obtain sterile *Arabidopsis* seeds.

The growth of *Arabidopsis* strains can be seen in **Figure 2a**–**c**, which indicates the growth of the

Functional Mapping of Plant Growth in *Arabidopsis thaliana*

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74424

79

*A. thaliana* DNA was extracted with a DNA extraction kit (TIANGEN DP305) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The plant material used was 100 mg of the young leaf. After DNA was detected in the samples, the DNA sequence was determined by an outside com-

The degree of degradation of the DNA was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and imaged with an ultraviolet gel imager. The DNA sample was determined to be without degradation if

strains for 1, 3, and 6 weeks, respectively.

**Figure 1.** Schematic diagram of *Arabidopsis* planting.

pany. The resulting sequence data was subjected to SNP calling.

**Figure 2.** *Arabidopsis* growth conditions at 1 week (a), 3 weeks (b), and 6 weeks (c).

**2.3. Acquisition of SNP data**

*2.3.1. DNA quality inspection*

For vernalization of *A. thaliana* seeds, distilled water was added to the seeds and the seeds were placed in a 4°C refrigerator for 3 days of dark treatment before sowing. To sow the seeds after vernalization, vermiculite, peat, and limestone were mixed evenly in a 1:1:1 ratio and used as the soil. An 18 × 18 cm plastic grid with 90 squares was placed over the plant pot. The seeds were placed into each mesh with a toothpick. The planting diagram of the experiment is shown in **Figure 1**. Circles and triangles represent the two different lines of *A. thaliana*, planted in the same growing space. After planting, the plant pot was covered with plastic wrap and then transferred to the long day (16 h) and short day (8 h) artificial climate room (22°C). When the *Arabidopsis* sprouts displayed green shoots, the plastic wrap was removed.

## **2.2. Phenotypic data acquisition**

Plant height was measured after 1 week of planting. Each line of *A. thaliana* was randomly selected for 10 strains. In total, 1160 strains of *Arabidopsis* were selected. The height of *Arabidopsis* plants were measured once per week until the end of the plant's life cycle by manual measurement with a 1 mm ruler (accurate to 1 mm).

The plant height phenotype was measured for 1160 *A. thaliana* strains. The height of 1–60 lines of *Arabidopsis* was measured seven times, and the height of 60–116 lines of *Arabidopsis* was measured seven times. Because of environmental or genotypic reasons, nine lineages of *Arabidopsis* did not complete a life cycle (numbers 1–4, 22, 28–30, and 60).

**Figure 1.** Schematic diagram of *Arabidopsis* planting.

The growth of *Arabidopsis* strains can be seen in **Figure 2a**–**c**, which indicates the growth of the strains for 1, 3, and 6 weeks, respectively.

## **2.3. Acquisition of SNP data**

*A*. *thaliana* to dissect the patterning and development of flowers [45], embryos [46], leaves, and roots [47]. In this study, we describe the implementation of functional mapping to identify and map QTLs for height trajectories in a population of *A. thaliana*. The mapping population is composed of 144 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a Landsberg erecta (LER) cultivar and a Shadara (SHA) cultivar. Functional mapping identified 48 QTLs that determine the height growth of *A. thaliana*. The identification of these QTLs will help us address funda-

In this study, the mapping population included 114 RILs derived from two cultivars of *Arabidopsis*. The main phenotype of the LER cultivar includes round leaves, short petiole, short pedicel, flowers clustered at inflorescence tips, short pod width, sharp tip, inflorescence compact, and a plant height of 10–25 cm. The general traits of the SHA cultivar are described in The *Arabidopsis* Information Resource database as a slightly narrow leaf with a height of about 30 cm. To ensure adequate seeds for the sustainability of the material, each RIL carried out a generation of expansion. For the sterilization of *Arabidopsis* seeds, the seeds were shaken in a centrifuge tube with 10% sodium hypochlorite for 6 min; 1 ml of 95% alcohol was then added, and the tubes were shaken for 5 min. The seeds were rinsed 5–6 times to thoroughly wash away the remaining sodium hypochlorite solution on the seed surface. The alcohol was poured out, and the tubes were dried at a super clean bench to obtain sterile

For vernalization of *A. thaliana* seeds, distilled water was added to the seeds and the seeds were placed in a 4°C refrigerator for 3 days of dark treatment before sowing. To sow the seeds after vernalization, vermiculite, peat, and limestone were mixed evenly in a 1:1:1 ratio and used as the soil. An 18 × 18 cm plastic grid with 90 squares was placed over the plant pot. The seeds were placed into each mesh with a toothpick. The planting diagram of the experiment is shown in **Figure 1**. Circles and triangles represent the two different lines of *A. thaliana*, planted in the same growing space. After planting, the plant pot was covered with plastic wrap and then transferred to the long day (16 h) and short day (8 h) artificial climate room (22°C). When the *Arabidopsis* sprouts displayed green shoots, the plastic wrap was removed.

Plant height was measured after 1 week of planting. Each line of *A. thaliana* was randomly selected for 10 strains. In total, 1160 strains of *Arabidopsis* were selected. The height of *Arabidopsis* plants were measured once per week until the end of the plant's life cycle by

The plant height phenotype was measured for 1160 *A. thaliana* strains. The height of 1–60 lines of *Arabidopsis* was measured seven times, and the height of 60–116 lines of *Arabidopsis* was measured seven times. Because of environmental or genotypic reasons, nine lineages of

mental questions about the genetic mechanisms of height growth.

**2. Materials and methods**

**2.1. Materials**

78 Next Generation Plant Breeding

*Arabidopsis* seeds.

**2.2. Phenotypic data acquisition**

manual measurement with a 1 mm ruler (accurate to 1 mm).

*Arabidopsis* did not complete a life cycle (numbers 1–4, 22, 28–30, and 60).

*A. thaliana* DNA was extracted with a DNA extraction kit (TIANGEN DP305) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The plant material used was 100 mg of the young leaf. After DNA was detected in the samples, the DNA sequence was determined by an outside company. The resulting sequence data was subjected to SNP calling.
