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Identifying quantitative trait loci and determining closely related stalk traits for rind penetrometer resistance in a high-oil maize population

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Abstract

Stalk lodging in maize causes annual yield losses between 5 and 20% worldwide. Many studies have indicated that maize stalk strength significantly negatively correlates with lodging observed in the field. Rind penetrometer resistance (RPR) measurements can be used to effectively evaluate maize stalk strength, but little is known about the genetic basis of this parameter. The objective of this study was to explore a genetic model and detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) of RPR and determine relationships between RPR and other stalk traits, especially cell wall chemical components. RPR is quantitative trait in nature, and both additive and non-additive effects may be important to consider for the improvement of RPR. Nine additive-effect QTLs covering nine chromosomes, except chromosome 5, and one pair of epistatic QTLs were detected for RPR. CeSA11 involved in cellulose synthesis and colorless2 involved in lignin synthesis were identified as possible candidate genes for RPR. Internode diameter (InD), fresh weight of internode (FreW), dry weight of internode (DryW), fresh weight and dry weight as well as cell wall components per unit volume significantly positively correlated with RPR. The internode water content (InW) significantly negatively correlated with RPR. Notably, these traits significantly correlated with RPR, and the QTLs of these traits co-localized with those of RPR. The corresponding results obtained from correlation analysis and QTL mapping suggested the presence of pleitropism or linkage between genes and indicated that these different approaches may be used for cross authentication of relationships between different traits.

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Abbreviations

ADF/V:

Acid detergent fiber content per unit volume of internode

ADL/V:

Acid detergent lignin content per unit volume of internode

CEL/V:

Cellulose content per unit volume of internode

CF/V:

Crude fiber content per unit volume of internode

DryW:

Dry weight of internode

DryW/V:

Dry weight of internode per unit volume

FreW:

Fresh weight of internode

FreW/V:

Fresh weight of internode per unit volume

IBPE:

The internode below the primary ear

InD:

Internode diameter

InL:

Internode length

InW:

Internode water content

NDF/V:

Neutral detergent fiber content per unit volume of internode

QTL:

Quantitative trait loci

RIL:

Recombinant inbred line

RPR:

Rind penetrometer resistance

SCS:

Stalk crushing strength

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Modern Maize Industry Technology System of China (No. nycytx-02) and national projects (No.2011AA10A103 and No. 2009CB118400). We thank Prof. Utz in University of Hohenheim, Dr. Wenxin Liu and Haochuan Li in China Agricultural University for their comments and suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, 2# Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing, 100193, China

    Haixiao Hu, Yujie Meng & Shaojiang Chen

  2. Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12# Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China

    Hongwu Wang

  3. Sorghum Institute, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 238# Yunhua West Road, Yuci District, Jinzhong, 030600, China

    Hai Liu

  4. The National Maize Industry Technology RD Center, MOA, Beijing, China

    Shaojiang Chen

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  1. Haixiao Hu
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  2. Yujie Meng
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  3. Hongwu Wang
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  4. Hai Liu
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  5. Shaojiang Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaojiang Chen.

Additional information

Communicated by T. Luebberstedt.

H. Hu and Y. Meng contributed equally to this work.

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Hu, H., Meng, Y., Wang, H. et al. Identifying quantitative trait loci and determining closely related stalk traits for rind penetrometer resistance in a high-oil maize population. Theor Appl Genet 124, 1439–1447 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-012-1799-5

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