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Identification of QTL for leaf angle at canopy-wide levels in maize

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Abstract

Leaf angle (LA) is one of the most important canopy architecture related traits in maize (Zea mays L.). However, the genetic basis of LA at canopy-wide levels is still not completely understood. In this study, one RIL population derived from two parent lines with distinct plant architecture was used for QTL mapping of LA at eight leaves below the tassel across three environments. Fifty-six QTL for LA of eight leaves were identified in single environment analysis and 44 QTL for LA of eight leaves were detected in joint analysis. Among them, nine common QTL were identified because they were detected for LA more than 1 leaves or in 2 or 3 environments. The single QTL could explain 1.29–20.14% of the phenotypic variation with affecting LA of 1–8 leaves, included qLA5.1 affected LA of all eight leaves, qLA3.1 affected LA of the upper leaves (1stLA–4thLA), and qLA9.1 affected LA of the lower leaves (5thLA–8thLA). Furthermore, the 8thLA was mainly affected by major and minor QTL; the 1stLA, 4thLA and 5thLA were affected by major QTL, minor QTL and epistatic interactions; the other four LAs were simultaneously affected by major QTL, minor QTL, epistatic interactions and environments, inferred that the genetic architecture of LA of eight leaves was different. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of genetic basis of LA at canopy-wide levels, which will be helpful to design the ideal plant architecture in maize.

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Abbreviations

LA:

Leaf angle

1st LA:

First leaf angle

2nd LA:

Second leaf angle

3th LA:

Third leaf angle

4th LA:

Fourth leaf angle

5th LA:

Fifth leaf angle

6th LA:

Sixth leaf angle

7th LA:

Seventh leaf angle

8th LA:

Eighth leaf angle

QTL:

Quantitative Trait Locus

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the National Basic Research Program of China (the “973” project, Grant No. 2014CB138203), the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, China (SKLGAE201509) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31101161).

Funding

The work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (the “973” project, Grant No. 2014CB138203), the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, China (SKLGAE201509) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31101161).

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  1. Dengguo Tang and Zhengjie Chen have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu City, 611130, Sichuan, China

    Dengguo Tang, Zhengjie Chen, Jixing Ni, Qin Jiang, Peng Li, Le Wang, Jinhong Zhou, Chenyang Li & Jian Liu

  2. Industrial Crop Research Institue, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 159 Huajin Avenue, Qingbaijiang District, Chengdu City, 610300, Sichuan, China

    Zhengjie Chen

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  1. Dengguo Tang
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Contributions

JL and DT designed and supervised the study, DT, ZC, JN, QJ, PL, LW, JZ, CL performed the phenotypic data collection. DT analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript, DT and ZC revised and finalized the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jian Liu.

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Tang, D., Chen, Z., Ni, J. et al. Identification of QTL for leaf angle at canopy-wide levels in maize. Euphytica 217, 75 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-021-02781-4

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