Abstract
Received: ; accepted:Root architecture is strongly linked to plant survival under abiotic and biotic stressconditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the inheritance of the primaryroot system complexity in maize (Zea mays L.). For a total of 231 recombinant inbred lines(RIL) derived from the IBM (B73×Mo17) population multiple primary root systems wereproduced by applying a replicated alpha lattice experimental design. Digital images ofeach root system were taken at days four and eight after germination. For each root systemimage, the fractal dimension (FD) was computed. Significant differences between RILswere found in the FD calculated after four (FD1) and eight (FD2) days. For FD1 22 QTLs,for FD2 13, and for FD change over time (∆FD) 12 QTLs were found on all ten maizechromosomes explaining between 24.6 and 46.8% of the phenotypic variation. Bothparental inbreds contributed FD-increasing QTL alleles. FD1 and FD2 had fivechromosomal BIN locations in common. Four unique QTLs were identified for thedynamics of root growth between days four and eight. Maize root mutants involved in rootmorphology were located in chromosomal BINs carrying QTLs for FD1 or FD2. Thisstudy demonstrated the usefulness of the IBM population as a maize community resourceto investigate the genetic basis of root complexity in maize.Key words: maize, QTL, primary root system, complexity, fractal dimension
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