Constructing high-density linkage maps with MapDisto 2.0

We present the second major release of MapDisto, a multi-platform, user-friendly computer program for constructing genetic linkage maps of experimental populations. This version includes several new major features: (i) handling of very large genotyping datasets like the ones generated by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS); (ii) direct importation and conversion of Variant Call Format (VCF) files; (iii) detection of linkage, i.e. construction of linkage groups in case of segregation distortion; (iv) data imputation on VCF files using a new approach, called LB-Impute. These features operate through inclusion of new Java modules that are installed and used transparently by MapDisto; (v) QTL detection via a new R/qtl graphical interface.\n\nThe program is available free of charge at mapdisto.free.fr.