Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) has emerged as one of the two primary crops, alongside sugarcane, for global sugar production. Comprehensively understanding sucrose synthesis, transport, and accumulation in sugar beet holds great significance for enhancing sugar production. In this study, we collected a diverse set of 269 sugar beet accessions worldwide and measured 12 phenotypes, comprising biomass, soluble sugar content, and 10 taproot-related traits. We re-sequenced 207 accessions to explore genetic diversity and population structure. Then we employed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and RNA-seq to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms and genes associated with natural phenotypic variations. Our findings revealed a panel of genes potentially regulating biomass and sugar accumulation, notably the dual-role gene UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, which genetically balances sugar accumulation and cell wall synthesis. In summary, this study provides a foundation for molecular breeding in sugar beet.

中文翻译：

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全基因组关联研究确定了 207 个甜菜种质中关键农艺性状的遗传基础


甜菜 （Beta vulgaris） 已成为与甘蔗一起用于全球糖生产的两种主要作物之一。全面了解甜菜中蔗糖的合成、运输和积累对提高糖生产具有重要意义。在这项研究中，我们收集了全球 269 个甜菜种质，并测量了 12 种表型，包括生物量、可溶性糖含量和 10 个主根相关性状。我们对 207 份种质进行了重新测序，以探索遗传多样性和种群结构。然后，我们采用全基因组关联研究 （GWAS） 和 RNA-seq 来识别单核苷酸多态性和与自然表型变异相关的基因。我们的研究结果揭示了一组可能调节生物量和糖积累的基因，特别是双作用基因 UDP-葡萄糖 4-差向异构酶，它在遗传上平衡糖积累和细胞壁合成。综上所述，本研究为甜菜的分子育种提供了基础。