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Effects of the quantitative trait locus qPss3 on inhibition of photoperiod sensitivity and resistance to stalk rot disease in maize

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Abstract

Key message

We identified a quantitative trait locus, qPss3 , and fine-mapped the causal locus to a 120-kb interval in maize. This locus inhibits the photoperiod sensitivity caused by ZmCCT9 and ZmCCT10 , resulting in earlier flowering by 2 ~ 4 days without reduction in stalk-rot resistance in certain genotypes.

Abstract

Photoperiod sensitivity is a key factor affecting the adaptation of maize (Zea mays L.) to high-latitude growing areas. Although many genes associated with flowering time have been identified in maize, no gene that inhibits photoperiod sensitivity has been reported. In our previous study, we detected large differences in photoperiod sensitivity among maize inbred lines with the same photoperiod-sensitive allele at the ZmCCT10 locus. Here, we used two segregating populations with the same genetic backgrounds but different ZmCCT10 alleles to perform quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. We identified a unique QTL, qPss3, on chromosome 3 in the population carrying the sensitive ZmCCT10 allele. After sequential fine-mapping, we eventually delimited qPss3 to an interval of ~ 120 kb. qPss3 behaved as a dominant locus and caused earlier flowering by 2–4 days via inhibiting ZmCCT10-induced photoperiod sensitivity under long-day conditions. qPss3 also inhibited the photoperiod sensitivity induced by another flowering-related gene, ZmCCT9. For application in agriculture, an F1 hybrid heterozygous at both qPss3 and ZmCCT10 loci constitutes an optimal allele combination, showing high resistance to stalk rot without a significant delay in flowering time. Moreover, qPss3 is of great value in regulating the flowering time of tropical maize grown at high-latitude regions.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Beijing Joint Research Program for Germplasm Innovation and New Variety Breeding (G20220628001) and Jiangsu province's seed industry revitalization project (JBGS[2021]002).

Funding

Beijing Joint Research Program for Germplasm Innovation and New Variety Breeding, G20220628001, Mingliang Xu, Jiangsu province's seed industry revitalization project, JBGS[2021]002, Mingliang Xu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China

    Feili Du, Yiyuan Tao, Mang Zhu, Chenyu Guo & Mingliang Xu

  2. Research Pipeline Enablement SBC, Syngenta Biotechnology China Co. Ltd., Beijing, China

    Chuanyu Ma

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  1. Feili Du
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  2. Yiyuan Tao
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  3. Chuanyu Ma
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  4. Mang Zhu
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Contributions

MX and FD designed the research. FD, YT, CM, MZ and CG performed molecular experiments. FD and YT collected phenotypic data and analyzed data. MX and FD wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mingliang Xu.

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Du, F., Tao, Y., Ma, C. et al. Effects of the quantitative trait locus qPss3 on inhibition of photoperiod sensitivity and resistance to stalk rot disease in maize. Theor Appl Genet 136, 126 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-023-04370-6

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