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Quantitative trait loci mapping of leaf angle and leaf orientation value in maize (Zea mays L.)

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Abstract

A major limiting factor for high productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) in dense planting is light penetration through the canopy. Plant architecture with a narrower leaf angle (LA) and an optimum leaf orientation value (LOV) is desirable to increase light capture for photosynthesis and production per unit area. However, the genetic control of the plant architecture traits remains poorly understood in maize. In this study, QTL for LA, LOV, and related traits were mapped using a set of 229 F2:3 families derived from the cross between compact and expanded inbred lines, evaluated in three environments. Twenty-five QTL were detected in total. Three of the QTL explained 37.4% and five of the QTL explained 53.9% of the phenotypic variance for LA and LOV, respectively. Two key genome regions controlling leaf angle and leaf orientation were identified. qLA1 and qLOV1 at nearest marker umc2226 on chromosome 1.02 accounted for 20.4 and 23.2% of the phenotypic variance, respectively; qLA5 and qLOV5 at nearest bnlg1287 on chromosome 5 accounted for 9.7 and 9.8% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. These QTL could provide useful information for marker-assisted selection in improving performance of plant architecture with regard to leaf angle and orientation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Professor Robert Turgeon and Mrs. Georgene Strauch of Cornell University, USA, and Professor Li Jiansheng of China Agricultural University, for critically reviewing and revising the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No. 2006AA001003) and National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2009CB118400).

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  1. College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, 95 Wenhua Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    L. X. Ku, W. M. Zhao, J. Zhang, L. C. Wu, C. L. Wang, P. A. Wang, W. Q. Zhang & Y. H. Chen

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  1. L. X. Ku
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Correspondence to Y. H. Chen.

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Communicated by A. Charcosset.

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Ku, L.X., Zhao, W.M., Zhang, J. et al. Quantitative trait loci mapping of leaf angle and leaf orientation value in maize (Zea mays L.). Theor Appl Genet 121, 951–959 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-010-1364-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-010-1364-z

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