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Dissection of the molecular genetic architecture of the ratio of ear to plant heights in response to ethylene by a RIL population with SNPs marker in maize

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Abstract

The low ratio of ear-to-plant heights (EPR) contributes to the balance and stability of maize plant’s center of gravity, resulting in reduced lodging for high grain yield. Previous studies on EPR of maize plants in response to ethylene mainly focused on phenotypic correlations with grain yield or stalk trait. In this study, QTL mapping by SNPs marker for EPR of maize plants was analyzed under ethylene treatment (ET) and non-ET control. The results indicated that ET significantly decreased phenotypic performance of EPR. High variance of EPR among RIL population showed a normal distribution. Five QTLs associated with EPR were identified under the two treatments using composition–interval mapping. The phenotypic variance observed by an individual QTL ranged from 5.69 to 10.02%. Two QTLs (qEPR1, qEPR2-2) were identified in ET treatment. One QTL (qEPR2-2) was simultaneously detected in both treatments at two geographic locations. These stable and consistent QTLs were important spots for EPR. Our findings provided important information for the fine mapping of quantitative trait genes and would help to reveal the molecular mechanisms of how EPR response to the application of ethylene.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The China National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant 31425017 to L.D.). The authors are grateful to Professor Xiaohong Yang, China Agricultural University, who developed the populations and contributed materials. The authors thank Professor Lizhen Zhang, China Agricultural University, for language improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Engineering Research Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China

    Weiqiang Zhang, Mingcai Zhang, Zhaohu Li & Liusheng Duan

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  1. Weiqiang Zhang
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  2. Mingcai Zhang
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  3. Zhaohu Li
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Correspondence to Liusheng Duan.

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Communicated by W. Wang.

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Zhang, W., Zhang, M., Li, Z. et al. Dissection of the molecular genetic architecture of the ratio of ear to plant heights in response to ethylene by a RIL population with SNPs marker in maize. Acta Physiol Plant 39, 142 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-017-2438-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-017-2438-1

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