Four QTL clusters containing major and stable QTLs for saturated fatty acid contents in a dense genetic map of cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Peanut is an important source of edible vegetable oils worldwide. Saturated fatty acid content is a key factor that affects the quality of peanut oil; thus, reducing its content is a key objective in peanut breeding. In this study, we constructed a dense genetic map of recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (Zhonghua 10 × ICG 12625) with 1443 SSR loci, covering a total length of 2279.10 cM. Using phenotypic data from three environments, we have identified 59 additive QTLs including eight stable ones and nine epistatic QTLs for various fatty acids. Combination of conditional and unconditional QTL analyses further revealed that there was a high genetic correlation between stearic acid and very long-chain saturated fatty acids. In addition, four QTL clusters (CLB04-1, CLB04-2, CLB04-3, and CLB06) harboring major and stable QTLs for saturated fatty acids were identified, which explained 10.77–36.73%, 35.10–41.89%, 10.79–39.18%, and 4.85–20.32% phenotypic variations, respectively. The physical interval of four QTL clusters was located at pseudomolecule B04 and B06 of Arachis ipaensis, containing putative genes that encode enzymes and transcription factors involved in fatty acid biosynthesis pathways. This study comprehensively analyzed the genetic components that controlled saturated fatty acid profiles and identified four QTL clusters containing stable QTLs with large effects. Our results could provide a platform for further gene discovery and guide the development of markers for genome-wide assisted selection of varieties with desired components of saturated fatty acids.