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

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Abstract

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 F2:3 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.

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Abbreviations

CIM:

Composite interval mapping

EH:

Ear height

IHO:

Illinois high oil

ILO:

Illinois low oil

JICIM:

Joint inclusive composite interval mapping

LA:

Leaf angle

LAA:

Leaf area

LL:

Leaf length

LNE:

Number of leaves above the top ear

LOD:

Logarithm of odds

LOV:

Leaf orientation value

LW:

Leaf width

MAS:

Marker-assisted selection

MIM:

Multiple interval mapping

NAM:

Nested association mapping

NILs:

Near isogenic lines

PH:

Plant height

QTL:

Quantitative trait locus/loci

SD:

Stalk diameter

SSR:

Simple sequence repeat

TB:

Number of tassel branches

TH:

Top height

THPH:

The ratio of top height to plant height

TL:

Tassel length

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Acknowledgments

We greatly thank China Agricultural University for providing us the high-oil maize inbred line GY220. We are grateful to Jiankang Wang and Huihui Li in helping us for joint-population QTL analysis. This work was funded by the Plan for Scientific Innovation Talent of Henan Province.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Physiological Ecology and Genetic Improvement of Food Crops in Henan Province, College of Agriculture, Henan Agricultural University, 63 Nongye Rd, Zhengzhou, China

    G. H. Yang, Y. B. Dong, Y. L. Li, Q. L. Wang, Q. L. Shi & Q. Zhou

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  1. G. H. Yang
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  2. Y. B. Dong
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  3. Y. L. Li
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  4. Q. L. Wang
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Correspondence to Y. L. Li.

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Yang, G.H., Dong, Y.B., Li, Y.L. et al. Integrative detection and verification of QTL for plant traits in two connected RIL populations of high-oil maize. Euphytica 206, 203–223 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-015-1502-4

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