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Genetic variation for N-remobilization and postsilking N-uptake in a set of maize recombinant inbred lines. 3. QTL detection and coincidences

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to map and characterize QTLs for traits related to nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE), grain N yield, N-remobilization and post-silking N-uptake. Furthermore, to examine whether QTLs detected with recombinant inbred lines (RILs) crossed to a tester are common to those detected with line per se evaluation, both types of evaluations were developed from the same set of RILs. The material was studied over two years at high N-input, and one year at low N-input. We used 15N-labelling to evaluate with accuracy the proportion of N remobilized from stover to kernels and the proportion of postsilking N-uptake allocated to kernels. With 59 traits studied in three environments, 608 QTLs were detected. Using a method of QTL clustering, 72 clusters were identified, with few QTLs being specific to one environment or to the type of plant material (lines or testcross families). However, considering each trait separately, few QTLs were common to both line per se and testcross evaluation. This shows that genetic variability is expressed differently according to the type of progeny. Studies of coincidences among QTLs within the clusters showed an antagonism between N-remobilization and N-uptake in several QTL-clusters. QTLs for N-uptake, root system architecture and leaf greenness coincided positively in eight clusters. QTLs for remobilization mainly coincided in clusters with QTLs for leaf senescence. On the whole, sign of coincidences between QTLs underlined the role of a “stay-green” phenotype in favouring N-uptake capacity, and thus grain yield and N grain yield.

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Abbreviations

ASI:

Anthesis-silking interval

GDH:

Glutamate dehydrogenase

GS:

Glutamine synthetase

N:

Nitrogen

NHI:

Nitrogen harvest index

NNI:

Nitrogen nutrition index

NUE:

Nitrogen utilization efficiency

NUtE:

Nitrogen utilization efficiency

QTL:

Quantitative trait locus

RIL:

Recombinant inbred lines

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Dr P.J. Lea for helpful suggestions on the scientific content and correction of the English. We also express all our thanks to one reviewer and to the editor for their helpful suggestions on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Syngenta Seeds, 12 Chemin de l’Hobit, BP 27, 31790, Saint-Sauveur, France

    M. Coque

  2. Nutrition Azotée des Plantes, UR 511, INRA, R.D. 10, 78026, Versailles Cedex, France

    A. Martin & B. Hirel

  3. Station de Génétique Végétale, INRA-UPS-INAPG-CNRS, Ferme du Moulon, 91190, Gif/Yvette, France

    J. B. Veyrieras & A. Gallais

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  1. M. Coque
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  2. A. Martin
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  3. J. B. Veyrieras
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  4. B. Hirel
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  5. A. Gallais
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Correspondence to A. Gallais.

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Communicated by J.-L. Jannink.

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Coque, M., Martin, A., Veyrieras, J.B. et al. Genetic variation for N-remobilization and postsilking N-uptake in a set of maize recombinant inbred lines. 3. QTL detection and coincidences. Theor Appl Genet 117, 729–747 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-008-0815-2

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