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Expression quantitative trait loci analysis of the Rubisco activase gene in maize

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses were applied in order to identify genetic factors that are relevant to the expression of a β-isoform Rubisco activase gene in maize, namely ZmRCAβ, in this study. During two years, a maize recombinant inbred line population was measured for ZmRCAβ expression levels at the grain filling stage. Based on a genetic map containing 916 molecular markers, we detected five eQTLs, namely qRCA2.1 on chromosome 2, and qRCA4.1, qRCA4.2, qRCA4.3, and qRCA4.4 on chromosome 4. These eQTLs explained the phenotypic variation ranging from 6.14% to 7.50% with the logarithm of the odd values ranging from 3.11 to 4.96. Based on the position of the eQTLs and ZmRCAβ on the chromosome, qRCA4.2 was inferred as a cis-eQTL and the remaining as a trans-eQTL, suggesting that a combination of both cis- and trans-acting elements might control ZmRCAβ expression. qRCA4.2, qRCA4.3, and qRCA4.4 were repeatedly detected during two years.

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Abbreviations

eQTL:

expression quantitative trait loci

gDNA:

genomic DNA

LOD:

logarithm of the odd

RCA:

Rubisco activase

RIL:

recombinant inbred line

RuBP:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China

    Q. Sun, Y. Zhang, Z. L. Zhang, M. Cui, X. Kan, H. B. Shi, D. X. Deng & Z. T. Yin

  2. Seed Management Station of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, 210000, China

    B. Chen

  3. Huaiyin Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Xuhuai Region in Jiangsu, Huaian, 223001, China

    B. Jia

Authors
  1. Q. Sun
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  2. Y. Zhang
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  3. B. Chen
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  4. B. Jia
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  5. Z. L. Zhang
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  6. M. Cui
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  7. X. Kan
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  8. H. B. Shi
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  9. D. X. Deng
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  10. Z. T. Yin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Z. T. Yin.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This work received grant support in part from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571669, 91535106), the Jiangsu Natural Science Fund (BK20141272), the Agricultural Branch of the Technology Supported Program of Jiangsu Province (BE2014353, BE2013434), the Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund (CX(14)5087), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Sun, Q., Zhang, Y., Chen, B. et al. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis of the Rubisco activase gene in maize. Photosynthetica 55, 329–337 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0242-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0242-6

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