Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Identification of combining ability loci for five yield-related traits in maize using a set of testcrosses with introgression lines

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Theoretical and Applied Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Combining ability is essential for hybrid breeding in crops. However, the genetic basis of combining ability remains unclear and has been seldom investigated. Identifying molecular markers associated with this complex trait would help to understand its genetic basis and provide useful information for hybrid breeding in maize. In this study, we identified genetic loci of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for five yield-related traits under three environments using a set of testcrosses with introgression lines (ILs). GCA or SCA of the five yield-related traits of the ILs was estimated by the performance of testcrosses with four testers from different heterotic groups. Genetic correlations between GCA of the traits and the corresponding traits per se were not significant or not strong, suggesting that the genetic basis between them is different. A total of 56 significant loci for GCA and 21 loci for SCA were commonly identified in at least two environments, and only 5 loci were simultaneously controlling GCA and SCA, indicating that the genetic basis of GCA and SCA is different. For all of the traits investigated, positive and significant correlations between the number of GCA loci in the ILs and the performance of the corresponding GCA of the ILs were detected, implying that pyramiding GCA loci would have positive effect on the performance of GCA. Results in this study would be useful for maize hybrid breeding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

GCA:

General combining ability

SCA:

Specific combining ability

QTL:

Quantitative trait loci

ILs:

Introgression lines

WH:

Wuhan

BD:

Baoding

YP:

Yield per plant

PH:

Plant height

KN:

Kernel number per row

RN:

Row number

KW:

100-Kernel weight

References

  • Cerna FJ, Cianzio SR, Rafalski A, Tingey S, Dryer D (1997) Relationship between seed yield heterosis and molecular marker heterozygosity in soybean. Theor Appl Genet 95:460–467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doerksen TK, Kannenberg LW, Lee EA (2003) Effect of recurrent selection on combining ability in maize breeding populations. Crop Sci 43:1652–1658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genter CF, Eberhart SA (1974) Performance of original and advanced maize populations and their diallel crosses. Crop Sci 14:880–885

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffing B (1956) Concept of general and specific combining ability in relation to diallel crossing systems. Au J Biol Sci 9:463–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallauer AR (1990) Methods used in developing maize inbreds. Maydica 35:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu L (2007) General combining ability analysis and its QTL mapping of maize DH lines. Dissertation for master’s degree, Heibei Agricultural University, Baoding, China

  • Johnson GR (1982) Two-locus theory in recurrent selection for general combining ability in maize. Theor Appl Genet 61:279–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan R, Tao Y, Godwin D, Henzell G, Cooper M, Mclityre CL (2003) Prediction of hybrid performance in grain sorghum using RFLP markers. Theor Appl Genet 106:559–567

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi SP, Bhave SG, Chowdari KVGS, Dhonukshe BL, Lalitha K, Ranjekar PK, Gupta VS (2001) Use of DNA markers in prediction of hybrid performance and heterosis for a three-line hybrid system in rice. Biochem Genet 39:179–200

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee EA, Tollenaar M (2007) Physiological basis of successful breeding strategies for maize grain yield. Crop Sci 47:202–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J (2009) Production, breeding and process of maize in China. In: Jeff LB, Sarah CH (eds) Handbook of Maize: Its Biology. Springer, New York, pp 563–576

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ni X, Zhang T, Jiang K, Yang L, Yang Q, Cao Y, Wen C, Zheng J (2009) Correlations between specific combining ability, heterosis and genetic distance in hybrid rice. Hereditas (Beijing) 31:849–854

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu XC, Chen SG, Chen JS, Ishiki K, Wang WX, Yu L (2004) Improvement of combining ability for restorer lines with the identified SSR markers in hybrid rice breeding. Breeding Sci 54:341–346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lv A, Zhang H, Zhang Z, Tao Y, Yue B, Zheng Y (2012) Conversion of the statistical combining ability into a genetic concept. J Integr Agric 11:43–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Melchinger AE (1999) Genetic diversity and heterosis. In: Coors JG, Pandey S (eds) The genetics and exploitation of heterosis in crops. ASA-CSSA, Madison, pp 99–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng Z, Tian Z, Liu X (2004) Improvement efficiency of modified S1-HS alternant recurrent selection in maize population ZZ4. Sci Agric Sin 37:1598–1603

    Google Scholar 

  • Qu Z, Li L, Luo J, Wang P, Yu S, Mou T, Zheng X, Hu Z (2012) QTL mapping of combining ability and heterosis of agronomic traits in rice backcross recombinant inbred lines and hybrid crosses. PLoS One 7:e28463. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028463

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riedelsheimer C, Czedik-Eyseberg A, Grieder C, Lisec J, Technow F, Sulpice R, Altmann T, Stitt M, Willmitzer L, Melchinger AE (2012) Genomic and metabolic prediction of complex heterotic traits in hybrid maize. Nat Genet 44:217–220

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rojas BA, Sprague GF (1952) A comparison of variance components in corn yield trials: III. General and specific combining ability and their interaction with locations and years. Agron J 44:462–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schnell FW (1961) On some aspects of reciprocal recurrent selection. Euphytica 10:24–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schrag TA, Melchinger AE, Sørensen AP, Frisch M (2006) Prediction of single- cross hybrid performance for grain yield and grain dry matter content in maize using AFLP markers associated with QTL. Theor Appl Genet 113:1037–1047

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schrag TA, Möhring J, Melchinger AE, Kusterer B, Dhillon BS, Piepho HP, Frisch M (2010) Prediction of hybrid performance in maize using molecular markers and joint analyses of hybrids and parental inbreds. Theor Appl Genet 120:451–461

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sprague GF, Tatum LA (1942) General vs. specific combining ability in single crosses of corn. J Am Soc Agron 34:923–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teng W, Cao J, Chen Y, Liu X, Jing X, Zhang F, Li J (2004) Analysis of maize heterotic groups and patterns during past decade in China. Sci Agric Sin 37:1804–1811

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuylsteke M, Kuiper M, Stam P (2000) Chromosomal regions involved in hybrid performance and heterosis: their AFLP (R)-based identification and practical use in prediction models. Heredity 85:208–218

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walejko RN, Russell WA (1977) Evaluation of recurrent selection for specific combining ability in two open pollinated maize cultivars. Crop Sci 17:647–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Zhao Y, Xue Y, Zhang Z, Zheng Y, Chen J (2007) Development and evaluation of two link-up single segment introgression lines in Zea mays. Acta Agron Sin 33:663–668

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y (2010) Molecular Plant Breeding. CABI

  • Zou CY, Li LJ, Yang KC, Pan GT, Rong TZ (2010) Effects of improvement by mass selection on the different maize synthetic populations. Acta Agron Sin 36:76–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank Mr. Haibin Chang for his technical support in part of the field trails. This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No: 30971791), National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB100100), and Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No: 2010CBB01902).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Huanhuan Qi, Juan Huang, Qi Zheng, Zuxin Zhang, Fazhan Qiu, Yonglian Zheng & Bing Yue

  2. College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei/Hebei Sub-Center of Chinese National Maize Improvement Center/Northern China Key Laboratory for Corp Germplasm Resources, Ministry of Education, Baoding, 071001, China

    Yaqun Huang & Liying Zhu

  3. Hubei Provincial Seed Group Co., Ltd, No. 277 Shendun-3 Road, New Technology Development Zone, East Lake, Wuhan, 430206, China

    Renxue Shao & Guangcheng Zhou

Authors
  1. Huanhuan Qi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juan Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qi Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yaqun Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Renxue Shao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Liying Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zuxin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Fazhan Qiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Guangcheng Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Yonglian Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Bing Yue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bing Yue.

Additional information

Communicated by T. Luebberstedt.

H. Qi and J. Huang contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Qi, H., Huang, J., Zheng, Q. et al. Identification of combining ability loci for five yield-related traits in maize using a set of testcrosses with introgression lines. Theor Appl Genet 126, 369–377 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-012-1985-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-012-1985-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation