Comparative quantitative trait locus mapping of maize flowering-related traits in an F2:3 and recombinant inbred line population

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Flowering-related traits in maize are affected by complex factors and are important for the improvement of cropping systems in the maize zone. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) detected using different materials and methods usually vary. In the present study, 266 maize (Zea mays) F 2:3 families and 301 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from a cross between 08-641 (founding parent from southeast China) and Ye478 (founding parent from China) were evaluated for four flowering-related traits, including days to tasseling (DTT), days to pollen shedding (DPS), days to silking (DTS), and anthesis-silking interval. Sixty-six QTLs controlling the target traits were detected in the F 2:3 and RIL populations via single environment analysis and joint analysis across all environments (JAAE). The QTLs explained 0.8-13.47% of the phenotypic variation, with 12 QTLs explaining more than 10%. The results of meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis indicated that 41 QTLs could be integrated into 14 MQTLs. One MQTL included 2.9 QTLs, ranging from two to ten QTLs for one to three traits. QTLs, including MQTL1-1 and MQTL9-1, were detected across the F 2:3 and RIL populations via SAE and JAAE. Among the MQTLs, nine QTLs were integrated into MQTL9-1 and affected DTT, DPS, and DTS, with the favored allele being derived from 08-641. MQTL3-2 showed high phenotypic variation and was suitable for fine mapping to determine the genetic mechanisms of flowering. MQTL3-2 could be applied to improve inbred lines using marker-assisted selection.

Linkage mapping combined with GWAS revealed the genetic structural relationship and candidate genes of maize flowering time-related traits

“…The flowering time of maize exhibits tremendous natural diversity [18]. To identify the genetic factors that control the variation in maize flowering time, several populations have been constructed for the extensive mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) [19][20][21][22]. A combination of bi-parental association populations and high-throughput sequencing technology was used to reveal that the flowering time of maize is controlled by complex genetic structures, for which numerous smalleffect QTLs have been mapped [18,23].…”

Dual-model GWAS Analysis and Genomic Selection of Maize Flowering Time-Related Traits

“…A large number of QTLs have been identified for maize flowering time-related traits [5][6][7]. In the study of , six QTLs on chromosomes 1, 5, 9, and 10 were detected for DTT, explaining 3.42-11.79% of the phenotypic variation; twenty-one QTLs on chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 were detected for DTP, explaining 0.8-12.95% of the phenotypic variation; twenty-two QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 9, and 10 were detected for DTS, explaining 1.77-13.47% of the phenotypic variation; and seventeen QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 were detected for anthesis-silking interval (ASI), explaining 0.38-13% of the phenotypic variation [5].…”

“…A large number of QTLs have been identified for maize flowering time-related traits [5][6][7]. In the study of , six QTLs on chromosomes 1, 5, 9, and 10 were detected for DTT, explaining 3.42-11.79% of the phenotypic variation; twenty-one QTLs on chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 were detected for DTP, explaining 0.8-12.95% of the phenotypic variation; twenty-two QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 9, and 10 were detected for DTS, explaining 1.77-13.47% of the phenotypic variation; and seventeen QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 were detected for anthesis-silking interval (ASI), explaining 0.38-13% of the phenotypic variation [5]. In the RIL population of B73 × Abe2, eight QTLs with the phenotypic variation explained (PVE) ranging from 1.92 to 17.28%, thirteen QTLs with the PVE ranging from 2.09 to 13.08%, and fifteen QTLs with the PVE ranging from 2.28 to 14.87% were identified for days to heading (DTH), DTS, and days to anthesis (DTA), respectively (Shi et al, 2022) [3].…”