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Fine mapping a major QTL for kernel number per row under different phosphorus regimes in maize (Zea mays L.)

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Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential macronutrients for plant growth and development. Grain yield is the primary trait of interest in maize breeding programs. Maize grain yield and yield-related traits are seriously affected by P deficiency. Kernel number per row (KN), as one of the major components of grain yield, has attracted the attention of more and more breeders. In our previous study, one major QTL (named qKN), controlling KN under different P regimes was mapped to the interval between molecular markers bnlg1360 and umc1645 on chromosome 10 using a F 2:3 population derived from the cross between maize inbreds 178 and 5,003 (107). In order to understand its genetic basis, we developed a population of near isogenic lines (NILs) and two P regimes were used to fine map and characterize qKN. The QTL qKN was finally localized in a region of ~480 kb. A single qKN allele of inbred 178 increased KN by 6.08–10.76 % in the 5,003 (107) background; qKN acted in a partially dominant manner. Our results will be instrumental for the future identification and isolation of the candidate gene underlying qKN. The tightly linked molecular markers that we developed for qKN will be useful in maize breeding programs for improving KN applying the marker-assisted selection.

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Abbreviations

cM:

Centimorgan

KN:

Kernel number per row

NIL:

Near isogenic line

P:

Phosphorus

QTL:

Quantitative trait loci

RIL:

Recombinant inbred line

SSR:

Single sequence repeat

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the China National Major Basic research Program (973:2009CB118405). The authors greatly acknowledge Professor Dai JingRui from National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agriculture University, for critical review of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Lab of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Daizong Street 61, Taian, Shandong, 271018, People’s Republic of China

    Guodong Zhang, Xiaopeng Wang, Yanchen Tian, Meng Li, Yongxin Nie, Qingcai Peng & Zeli Wang

  2. Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People’s Republic of China

    Bin Wang

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  1. Guodong Zhang
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  2. Xiaopeng Wang
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  3. Bin Wang
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  4. Yanchen Tian
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  5. Meng Li
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  6. Yongxin Nie
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  7. Qingcai Peng
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  8. Zeli Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zeli Wang.

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Communicated by T. Würschum.

G. Zhang and X. Wang contributed equally to this work.

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Zhang, G., Wang, X., Wang, B. et al. Fine mapping a major QTL for kernel number per row under different phosphorus regimes in maize (Zea mays L.). Theor Appl Genet 126, 1545–1553 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-013-2072-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-013-2072-2

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