QTL analysis for stomatal functioning in tetraploid Rosa x hybrida grown at high relative air humidity and its implications on postharvest longevity

High relative air humidity (RH = 85 %) during leaf development disturbs stomatal functioning leading to excessive water loss in conditions of high evaporative demand, resulting in severe reduction in postharvest longevity. In roses, this effect depends on the genotype, opening the possibility for breeding cultivars with more responsive stomata. In this study, we aim at identifying genomic regions associated with the control of water loss following growth at high RH. The F1 generation (108 offspring) and the two parents (P540 and P867) of a tetraploid cut rose population grown at high (85 %) RH were phenotyped for stomatal control to water loss by assessing the relative water content after 4 h of leaflet desiccation (RWC_4 h). The RWC_4 h varied between 7 and 62 % across the 110 studied individuals, with parents P540 and P867 showing 51 and 20 % RWC_4 h, respectively. Based on these data, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed. The impact of the identified QTLs on postharvest longevity of ten selected offspring was further evaluated. Three QTLs were identified: two major [positioned on linkage group 5 of the integrated consensus map (ICM 5) of both parents and on ICM 2 of the parent P867] and one putative minor (mapped to ICM 6 of both parents), explaining 32 % of the variability in the RWC_4 h. Low RWC_4 h was found to be a good proxy for eliminating the offspring with short vase life. This study constitutes a first step toward identifying the most likely regions for genes of interest controlling stomatal functioning in high RH-grown plants.