Genetic dissection of yield and yield-related traits in mungbean based on QTL meta-analysis

As an important food crop and nutritional source, mungbean has prioritized yield improvement as a key objective in breeding programs. In present study, we conducted a QTL meta-analysis to integrate 660 QTLs related to yield and yield-related traits in mungbean published over the past 20 years. A total of 590 initial QTLs were mapped onto a high-density consensus map, resulting in the identification of 72 meta-QTLs (MQTLs). These MQTLs were unevenly distributed across 11 linkage groups (LGs) with an average confidence interval (CI) of 1.21 cM, which was 6.26-fold narrower than the average CI of the initial QTLs. Among these 72 MQTLs, 20 were validated in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for yield and yield-related traits in mungbean. Orthologous MQTL analysis revealed that 22 mungbean MQTLs were collinear with 19 MQTLs in common bean for yield and yield-related traits. In addition, 20 breeder's MQTLs were screened from the 72 MQTLs, and 339 gene models were identified within the breeder's MQTL regions. Twenty-two mungbean orthologs of yield-related genes such as seed germination, tiller number, and plant height in rice and <i>Arabidopsis</i> were identified in the breeder's MQTL regions using homology analysis. This study contributes to understanding the genetic mechanisms for yield and yield-related traits and provides new ideas for the genetic improvement and breeding of mungbean.