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Characterization of opaque2 modifier QTLs and candidate genes in recombinant inbred lines derived from the K0326Y quality protein maize inbred

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Abstract

Quality protein maize (QPM) is a high lysine-containing corn that is based on genetic modification of the opaque2 (o2) mutant. In QPM, modifier genes convert the starchy endosperm of o2 to the vitreous phenotype of wild type maize. There are multiple, unlinked o2 modifier loci (Opm) in QPM and their nature and mode of action are unknown. We previously identified seven Opm QTLs and characterized 16 genes that are differentially up-regulated at a significant level in K0326Y QPM, compared to the starchy endosperm mutant W64Ao2. In order to further characterize these Opm QTLs and the genes up-regulated in K0326Y QPM, we created a population of 314 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between K0326Y QPM and W64Ao2. The RILs were characterized for three traits associated with endosperm texture: vitreousness, density and hardness. Genetic linkage analysis of the RIL population confirmed three of the previously identified QTLs associated with o2 endosperm modification in K0326Y QPM. Many of the genes up-regulated in K0326Y QPM showed substantially higher levels of expression in vitreous compared with opaque RILs. These included genes associated with the upstream regulation of the ethylene response pathway, and a gene encoding a regulatory subunit of pyrophosphate-dependent fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, an adaptive enzyme of the glycolytic pathway.

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Acknowledgments

The research described in this manuscript was supported by grants from the USDA (CSREES 2004-35301-14537), DOE (DE-FG02-96ER20242) and Pioneer Hi-Bred to BAL. We thank Roberto Lizzaraga-Guerra for contributing to the creation of the genetic materials that were used in this analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska, E323 Beadle Center, 1901 Vine Street, P.O. Box 880665, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0665, USA

    David R. Holding & Xiaomei Guo

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Brenda G. Hunter & Brian A. Larkins

  3. Plant Stress Genomics Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    John P. Klingler

  4. Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA

    Song Wu

  5. Department of Biology, Baylor University, One Bear Place 97388, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Bryan C. Gibbon

  6. Center for Statistical Genetics, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Rongling Wu

  7. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Johnston, IA, 50131-1004, USA

    Jan-Michele Schulze & Rudolf Jung

Authors
  1. David R. Holding
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  2. Brenda G. Hunter
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  3. John P. Klingler
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  4. Song Wu
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  5. Xiaomei Guo
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  6. Bryan C. Gibbon
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  8. Jan-Michele Schulze
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  9. Rudolf Jung
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  10. Brian A. Larkins
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian A. Larkins.

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Communicated by C. Schön.

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Holding, D.R., Hunter, B.G., Klingler, J.P. et al. Characterization of opaque2 modifier QTLs and candidate genes in recombinant inbred lines derived from the K0326Y quality protein maize inbred. Theor Appl Genet 122, 783–794 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-010-1486-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-010-1486-3

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