Abstract

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapped in different genetic populations are of great significance for marker-assisted breeding. In this study, an F2:3 population were developed from the crossing of two maize inbred lines SG-5 and SG-7 and applied to QTL mapping for seven yield-related traits. The seven traits included 100-kernel weight, ear length, ear diameter, cob diameter, kernel row number, ear weight, and grain weight per plant. Based on an ultra-high density linkage map, a total of thirty-three QTLs were detected for the seven studied traits with composite interval mapping (CIM) method, and fifty-four QTLs were indentified with genome-wide composite interval mapping (GCIM) methods. For these QTLs, Fourteen were both detected by CIM and GCIM methods. Besides, eight of the thirty QTLs detected by CIM were identical to those previously mapped using a F2 population (generating from the same cross as the mapping population in this study), and fifteen were identical to the reported QTLs in other recent studies. For the fifty-four QTLs detected by GCIM, five of them were consistent with the QTLs mapped in the F2 population of SG-5 × SG-7, and twenty one had been reported in other recent studies. The stable QTLs associated with grain weight were located on maize chromosomes 2, 5, 7, and 9. In addition, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SG-5 and SG-7 were obtained from the transcriptomic profiling of grain at different developmental stages and overlaid onto the stable QTLs intervals to predict candidate genes for grain weight in maize. In the physical intervals of confirmed QTLs qKW-7, qEW-9, qEW-10, qGWP-6, qGWP-8, qGWP-10, qGWP-11 and qGWP-12, there were 213 DEGs in total. Finally, eight genes were predicted as candidate genes for grain size/weight. In summary, the stable QTLs would be reliable and the candidate genes predicted would be benefit for maker assisted breeding or cloning.

Highlights

  • Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapped in different genetic populations are of great significance for marker-assisted breeding

  • The closes relation occurs between grain weight per ear (GWP) and ear weight (EW) (0.975)

  • To decrease the candidate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) number, we focused on those overlapped within the physical intervals of those confirmed QTLs related to grain weight

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Summary

Introduction

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapped in different genetic populations are of great significance for marker-assisted breeding. An F2:3 population were developed from the crossing of two maize inbred lines SG-5 and SG-7 and applied to QTL mapping for seven yield-related traits. Based on an ultra-high density linkage map, a total of thirty-three QTLs were detected for the seven studied traits with composite interval mapping (CIM) method, and fifty-four QTLs were indentified with genome-wide composite interval mapping (GCIM) methods. The early generations with beneficial effect would be served as new breeding materials for cultivating new varieties[7] Another scheme for confirming QTLs is to analyze if the target QTLs are stable and common between or among. The trichome density trait was confirmed with four recombinant inbred lines (RIL) populations of A. thaliana[13], the stay green trait was confirmed with two RILs populations of sorghum[14], and the kernel length trait of barley was confirmed by different RILs population[15]

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