Rice height QTLs in KDML105 chromosome segment substitution lines

Abstract

Rice is an important crop that is consumed by approximately half of the world's population on a regular basis. Plant height is an important characteristic with shorter rice often having higher lodging resistance and better soil nutrient utilization allowing for lower fertilizer use. We used a Chromosome Segment Substitution Line (CSSL) population generated by introgressing segments of CT9993 and IR62266 into KDML 105. We identified height QTLs on chromosomes 1 and 4. We performed whole genome sequencing of the parental lines and found that IR62266 has the deletion in Gibberellin 20-oxidase 2 corresponding to the semi-dwarf 1 locus. However, short height on chromosome 1 came from CT9993 with no mutation in Gibberellin 20-oxidase 2, or any known height genes. The height QTL on chromosome 4 contains mutations in Peroxisome biogenesis protein 6, which has been linked to a reduced growth phenotype in A. thaliana, making this a good candidate height gene.