BackgroundScopoletin and its glucoside @entity43330 are important secondary metabolites synthesized in plants as a defense mechanism against various environmental stresses. They belong to @entity6397 , a class of phytochemicals with significant biological activities that is widely used in medical application and cosmetics industry. Although numerous studies showed that a variety of @entity6397 occurs naturally in several plant species, the details of @entity6397 biosynthesis and its regulation is not well understood. It was shown previously that @entity6397 (predominantly @entity43330 and @entity42361 ) occur in @entity958 ( @entity958 ) roots, but until now nothing is known about natural variation of their accumulation in this model plant. Therefore, the genetic architecture of @entity6397 biosynthesis in @entity958 has not been studied before.ResultsHere, the variation in @entity43330 and @entity42361 content was assessed by comparing seven @entity958 accessions. Subsequently, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping was performed with an Advanced Intercross Recombinant Inbred Lines (AI-RILs) mapping population EstC ( @entity68279  *  Col). In order to reveal the genetic basis of both @entity43330 and @entity42361 biosynthesis, two sets of @entity1042 extracts were made from @entity958 roots and one set was additionally subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis prior to quantification done by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We identified one QTL for @entity43330 and five QTLs for @entity42361 accumulation. The identified QTLs explained 13.86% and 37.60% of the observed phenotypic variation in @entity43330 and @entity42361 content, respectively. In silico analysis of genes located in the associated QTL intervals identified a number of possible candidate genes involved in @entity6397 biosynthesis.ConclusionsTogether, our results demonstrate for the first time that @entity958 is an excellent model for studying the genetic and molecular basis of natural variation in @entity6397 biosynthesis in plants. It additionally provides a basis for fine mapping and cloning of the genes involved in @entity43330 and @entity42361 biosynthesis. Importantly, we have identified new loci for this biosynthetic process.

Identification of QTL affecting XXXX and @entity42361 biosynthesis in @entity958 .

@entity43330 :: ('MESH:C417572', 'Chemical') :: ['scopolin'] @entity958 :: ('3702', 'Species') :: ['Arabidopsis thaliana', 'Arabidopsis'] @entity1042 :: ('MESH:D000432', 'Chemical') :: ['methanol'] @entity68279 :: ('839920(Tax:3702)', 'Gene') :: ['Est-1'] @entity6397 :: ('MESH:D003374', 'Chemical') :: ['coumarins'] @entity42361 :: ('MESH:D012603', 'Chemical') :: ['scopoletin']
@entity43330 :: (MESH:C417572,Chemical) :: ['scopolin']
