Integrative detection and verification of QTL for plant traits in two connected RIL populations of high-oil maize

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 206; no. 1; pp. 203 - 223
• Main Authors: Yang, G. H., Dong, Y. B., Li, Y. L., Wang, Q. L., Shi, Q. L., Zhou, Q.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-11-2015; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Corn; Crop yields; Genetic markers; Genotype & phenotype; Life Sciences; Plant breeding; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Planting density; Population genetics; Quantitative genetics; Selective breeding; Single population analysis; QTL; QTL consistency; Plant traits; High-oil maize; Joint population analysis
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-015-1502-4

Plant traits play an important role in determining plant density and final grain yield. In this study, two related RIL populations developed from two crosses between one high-oil maize inbred and two normal dent maize inbreds were evaluated for 13 plant traits under four environments. QTL were detected within population and in joint-population analysis, and compared with the result obtained in the two F
2:3
generations. Our main objective was to find identical QTL and key genetic regions valuable in further research. Totally, 318 single-population QTL, 142 pairs of digenic epistasis and 412 joint-population QTL were detected. Joint-population analysis could detect much more QTL and increase the accuracy of QTL localization. Consistent QTL across generations, environments and analysis methods were observed for five traits at four bins. QTL for plant height and ear height at bin 3.05, and for leaf area at bin 6.03–6.04 had the highest consistency across most situations. These QTL with high consistency were worthy to be put into marker-assisted selection in trait improvement and to construct near isogenic lines in further research. Maize breeding could be improved by integrating marker assisted selection and phenotypic selection.