Molecular Mapping of the Major Resistance Quantitative Trait Locus qHS2.09 with Simple Sequence Repeat and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers in Maize

Abstract

The major quantitative trait locus (QTL) qHS2.09 plays an important role in resistance to head smut during maize breeding and production. In this study, a near-isogenic line (NIL), L34, which harbors the major QTL qHS2.09 in bin 2.09, was developed using a resistant donor 'Mo17' in a susceptible genetic background 'Huangzao4'. Using 18,683 genome-wide polymorphic loci, this major QTL was finely mapped into an interval of ≈1.10 Mb, flanked by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers PZE-102187307 and PZE-102188421. Moreover, the favorable allele from 'Mo17' for SNP PZE-102187611 in this interval that was most significantly associated with resistance to head smut (P = 1.88 E-10) and accounted for 39.7 to 44.4% of the phenotypic variance in an association panel consisting of 80 inbred lines. With combined linkage and association mapping, this major QTL was finally located between SNP PZE-102187486 and PZE-102188421 with an interval of ≈1.00 Mb. Based on the pedigrees of 'Mo17' and its derivatives widely used in temperate maize breeding programs, the favorable haplotype from 'Mo17' is shown to be the main source of resistance to head smut in these lines. Therefore, the SNPs closely linked to the major QTL qHS2.09, detected in both linkage and association mapping, and could be useful for marker-assisted selection in maize breeding programs.