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Quantitative trait loci analysis of phenotypic traits and principal components of maize tassel inflorescence architecture

Theoretical and Applied Genetics volume 113, pages 1395–1407 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Maize tassel inflorescence architecture is relevant to efficient production of F1 seed and yield performance of F1 hybrids. The objectives of this study were to identify genetic relationships among seven measured tassel inflorescence architecture traits and six calculated traits in a maize backcross population derived from two lines with differing tassel architectures, and identify Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) involved in the inheritance of those tassel inflorescence architecture traits. A Principal Component (PC) analysis was performed to examine relationships among correlated traits. Traits with high loadings for PC1 were branch number and branch number density, for PC2 were spikelet density on central spike and primary branch, and for PC3 were lengths of tassel and central spike. We detected 45 QTL for individual architecture traits and eight QTL for the three PCs. For control of inflorescence architecture, important QTL were found in bins 7.02 and 9.02. The interval phi034—ramosa1 (ral) in bin 7.02 was associated with six individual architecture trait QTL and explained the largest amount of phenotypic variation (17.3%) for PC1. Interval bnlg344–phi027 in bin 9.02 explained the largest amount of phenotypic variation (14.6%) for PC2. Inflorescence architecture QTL were detected in regions with candidate genes fasciated ear2, thick tassel dwarf1, and ral. However, the vast majority of QTL mapped to regions without known candidate genes, indicating positional cloning efforts will be necessary to identify these genes.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by NSF Plant Genome Research Program Grant 0110189 on Genetic Regulation of Inflorescence Architecture of Maize. We thank E. Vollbrecht and R. Martienssen for sharing ramosa1 sequence. We appreciate technical assistance of Chandra Paul, Jerry Chandler, and Don Roberts.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    N. Upadyayula, J. Wassom, M. O. Bohn & T. R. Rocheford

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  1. N. Upadyayula
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  2. J. Wassom
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  3. M. O. Bohn
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  4. T. R. Rocheford
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Correspondence to N. Upadyayula.

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Communicated by T. Lübberstedt.

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Upadyayula, N., Wassom, J., Bohn, M.O. et al. Quantitative trait loci analysis of phenotypic traits and principal components of maize tassel inflorescence architecture. Theor Appl Genet 113, 1395–1407 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-006-0359-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-006-0359-2

Keywords

  • Quantitative Trait Locus
  • Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping
  • Primary Branch
  • Quantitative Trait Locus Detection
  • Branch Number