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A consensus map of QTLs controlling the root length of maize

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Abstract

Traits related to the root length of maize (Zea mays L.), reported by 15 QTL studies of nine mapping populations, were subjected to a QTL meta-analysis. Traits were grouped according to ontology, and we propose a system of abbreviations to unambiguously identify the different root types and branching orders. The nine maps were merged into a consensus map, and the number and positions of putative QTL clusters (MQTLs) were determined. A total of 161 QTLs was grouped into 24 MQTLs and 16 individual QTLs. Seven MQTLs harbored root traits, which had been reported to be collocated with QTLs for grain yield or other drought-responsive traits in the field. The most consistent collocations were observed for the number and weight of the seminal roots (five loci). Based on our analysis at least six loci are good candidates for further evaluation (bins 1.07, 2.04, 2.08, 3.06, 6.05 and 7.04). For example, the MQTL in bin 2.04 harbored ten different single QTLs; the MQTLs in bins 1.07 and 3.06 combined 11 and 7 QTLs, respectively, that were detected in more than three populations. The presented database is a first step for a comprehensive overview of the genetic architecture of root system architecture and its ecophysiological function.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Peter Stamp for supporting this project and Marcia Schoenberg for linguistic corrections.

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  1. Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Andreas Hund, Regina Reimer & Rainer Messmer

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  1. Andreas Hund
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  2. Regina Reimer
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  3. Rainer Messmer
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Correspondence to Andreas Hund.

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Responsible Editor: Peter J. Gregory.

Electronic supplementary material

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Supplement 1

Meta QTLs (MQTLs) projected on the consensus map of chromosome 1 using MQTLView of MetaQTL. The most likely number of MQTLs per chromosome was estimated by QTLClust. The ID to link a QTL unambiguously to the original publication is given as [Experiment | Trait | LOD score | Chromosome position in cM ± Sign of the additivity]. For an example of this ID see Material and Methods (PNG 327 kb)

Supplement 2

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 2. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 273 kb)

Supplement 3

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 3. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 206 kb)

Supplement 4

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 4. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 221 kb)

Supplement 5

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 5. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 173 kb)

Supplement 6

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 6. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 157 kb)

Supplement 7

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 7. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 189 kb)

Supplement 8

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 8. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 155 kb)

Supplement 9

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 9. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 550 kb)

Supplement 10

MQTLs projected on the consensus map of chromosome 10. For details see Supplement 1. (PNG 249 kb)

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Hund, A., Reimer, R. & Messmer, R. A consensus map of QTLs controlling the root length of maize. Plant Soil 344, 143–158 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0735-9

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