The growths of leaves, shoots, roots and reproductive organs partly share their genetic control in maize plants

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 1105 - 1119
• Main Authors: DIGNAT, G., WELCKER, C., SAWKINS, M., RIBAUT, J. M., TARDIEU, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell 01-06-2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Elongation; Environmental Sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Variation; Genome, Plant; leaf growth; Life Sciences; meta‐analysis; Phenotype; Plant Components, Aerial - growth & development; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Roots - growth & development; pleiotropy; QTL; Quantitative Trait Loci; Zea mays; Zea mays - genetics; Zea mays - growth & development; Agronomic character; Monocotyledones; Zea mays; Genetic control; Root; Plant ecology; QTL; meta-analysis; leaf growth; Plant leaf; Genetic determinism; Cereal crop; Metaanalysis; Quantitative trait loci; Pleiotropy; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Shoot; Organ; LOW WATER POTENTIALS; DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESSES; EVAPORATIVE DEMAND; pleiotropy; MODELING APPROACH; QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI; TROPICAL MAIZE; ANTHESIS-SILKING INTERVAL; FLOWERING TIME; SPATIAL-DISTRIBUTION
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.12045

We have tested to what extent the growth ability of several organs of maize share a common genetic control. We summarised QTLs of leaf elongation rate in three mapping populations and confirmed them with introgression lines. 56% of them co‐located with QTLs involved in the growth of shoot, root or ear size with consistent allelic effects. Hence, leaf elongation rate is an indicator of the growth ability of other organs of the plant.
We have tested to what extent the growth ability of several organs of maize share a common genetic control. Every night, leaf elongation rate reaches a maximum value (LERmax) that has a high heritability, is repeatable between experiments and is correlated with final leaf length. Firstly, we summarized quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of LERmax and of leaf length in three mapping populations. Among the 14 consensus QTLs (cQTLs) of leaf length, seven co‐located with cQTLs of LERmax with consistent allelic effects. Nine cQTLs of LERmax (4% of the genome) were highly reliable and confirmed by introgression lines. We then compared these QTLs with those affecting the growths of leaves, shoots, roots or young reproductive organs, detected with the same mapping populations in three field experiments or in literature datasets. Five of the nine most reliable cQTLs of LERmax co‐located with QTLs involved in the growth of other organs (but not in flowering time) with consistent allelic effects. Reciprocally, two‐thirds of the 20 QTLs of growth of different organs co‐located with cQTLs of LERmax. Hence, LERmax, as determined in a phenotyping platform, is an indicator of the growth ability of other organs of the plant in controlled or in‐field conditions.