Development of a Genetic Linkage Map in Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) for the Detection of QTLs

A progeny (295 plants) of ‘Tonda Gentile delle Langhe’ X ‘Hall’s Giant’ (TGdL x HG) was obtained in 2009 in order to study the segregation of traits of agronomic and technological interest and develop marker assisted selection. A set of 142 plants of the progeny was analyzed at 95 SSR loci. The data were elaborated with JoinMap4 software to obtain linkage groups. In 2011, tree vigour, suckering habit, budbreak and flowering time were observed in 295 plants. The preliminary data showed a large variability of the traits with a normal distribution for vigour and time of budbreak. Molecular analysis and field observations were statistically analyzed to obtain a first linkage map.