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Identification of QTL for maize grain yield and kernel-related traits

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Abstract

Grain yield (GY) is one of the most important and complex quantitative traits in maize (Zea mays L.) breeding practice. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for GY and three kernel-related traits were detected in a set of recombinant inbred lines (RILs). One hundred and seven simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 168 insertion/deletion polymorphism markers (Indels) were used to genotype RILs. Eight QTLs were found to be associated with four yield-related traits: GY, 100-kernel weight (HKW), 10-kernel length (KL), and 10-kernel length width (KW). Each QTL explained between 5.96 (qKL2-1) and 13.05 (qKL1-1) per cent of the phenotypic variance. Notably, one common QTL, located at the marker interval between bnlg1893 and chr2-236477 (chromosomal bin 2.09) simultaneously controlled GY and HKW; another common QTL, at bin 2.03 was simultaneously responsible for HKW and KW. Of the QTLs identified, only one pair of significant epistatic interaction involved in chromosomal region at bin 2.03 was detected for HKW; no significant QTL × environment interactions were observed. These results provide the common QTLs and for marker-assisted breeding.

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Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate Prof Yuanqi Wu, Zhiming Zhang and Yaou Shen for suggestions and revisions to this manuscript. This research was supported by the National Basic Research Programme of China (the ‘973’ project, 2014CB138203).

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  1. Maize Research, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    CONG YANG, LEI ZHANG, AIMIN JIA & TINGZHAO RONG

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  1. CONG YANG
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Correspondence to TINGZHAO RONG.

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[Yang C., Zhang L., Jia A. and Rong T. 2016 Identification of QTL for maize grain yield and kernel-related traits. J. Genet. 95, xx–xx]

TR designed and supervised the study, CY, LZ and AJ performed the experiments. CY analysed the data and prepared the manuscript. The manuscript has been read and approved by all authors.

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YANG, C., ZHANG, L., JIA, A. et al. Identification of QTL for maize grain yield and kernel-related traits. J Genet 95, 239–247 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-016-0628-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-016-0628-z

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