Abstract
Seed storability, defined as the ability to remain alive during storage, is an important agronomic and physiological characteristic, but the underlying genetic mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we report quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analyses for seed storability using a high-density single nucleotide polymorphism linkage map in the backcross recombinant inbred lines that was derived from a cross of a japonica cultivar, Nipponbare, and an indica cultivar, 9311. Seven putative QTLs were identified for seed storability under natural storage, each explaining 3.6–9.0% of the phenotypic variation in this population. Among these QTLs, qSS1 with the 9311 alleles promoting seed storability was further validated in near-isogenic line and its derived-F2 population. The other locus (qSS3.1) for seed storability colocalized with a locus for germination ability under hydrogen peroxide, which is recognized as an oxidant molecule that causes lipid damage. Transgenic experiments validated that a candidate gene (OsFAH2) resides the qSS3.1 region controlling seed storability and antioxidant capability. Overexpression of OsFAH2 that encodes a fatty acid hydroxylase reduced lipid preoxidation and increased seed storability. These findings provide new insights into the genetic and physiological bases of seed storability and will be useful for the improvement of seed storability in rice.
Highlights
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population
49,890 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were detected in the population based on the Rice Genome Annotation Project (Release 7) and distributed evenly throughout the whole genome
A total of 2864 bins with the average size of 129.7 kb ranging from 1.7 kb to 7.3 Mb, were generated in the backcross recombinant inbred line (BRIL) based on recombination breakpoints that occurred in each individual
Summary
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population. Seed deterioration after harvest is a serious problem for rice production in Asia, especially for hybrid rice in the Southern area [1]. Rice seeds deteriorate during storage, resulting in reduction in germination rates, loss of seed viability, and a decline in nutritional quality. The loss of seed viability due to seed deterioration has been a great challenge to the crop production industry [2]. An average annual 15 billion kilograms of rice grain yields in China is lost due to seed deterioration during storage [3]. The improvement of seed storability to maintain seed viability during storage is becoming an important objective of rice and other crop breeding programs
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