QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.

Kernel size and weight are important determinants of grain yield in maize. In this study, multivariate conditional and unconditional quantitative trait loci (QTL), and digenic epistatic analyses were utilized in order to elucidate the genetic basis for these kernel-related traits. Five kernel-relate...

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Main Authors: Zhanhui Zhang, Zonghua Liu, Yanmin Hu, Weihua Li, Zhiyuan Fu, Dong Ding, Haochuan Li, Mengmeng Qiao, Jihua Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0089645&type=printable
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author Zhanhui Zhang
Zonghua Liu
Yanmin Hu
Weihua Li
Zhiyuan Fu
Dong Ding
Haochuan Li
Mengmeng Qiao
Jihua Tang
author_facet Zhanhui Zhang
Zonghua Liu
Yanmin Hu
Weihua Li
Zhiyuan Fu
Dong Ding
Haochuan Li
Mengmeng Qiao
Jihua Tang
author_sort Zhanhui Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Kernel size and weight are important determinants of grain yield in maize. In this study, multivariate conditional and unconditional quantitative trait loci (QTL), and digenic epistatic analyses were utilized in order to elucidate the genetic basis for these kernel-related traits. Five kernel-related traits, including kernel weight (KW), volume (KV), length (KL), thickness (KT), and width (KWI), were collected from an immortalized F2 (IF2) maize population comprising of 243 crosses performed at two separate locations over a span of two years. A total of 54 unconditional main QTL for these five kernel-related traits were identified, many of which were clustered in chromosomal bins 6.04-6.06, 7.02-7.03, and 10.06-10.07. In addition, qKL3, qKWI6, qKV10a, qKV10b, qKW10a, and qKW7a were detected across multiple environments. Sixteen main QTL were identified for KW conditioned on the other four kernel traits (KL, KWI, KT, and KV). Thirteen main QTL were identified for KV conditioned on three kernel-shape traits. Conditional mapping analysis revealed that KWI and KV had the strongest influence on KW at the individual QTL level, followed by KT, and then KL; KV was mostly strongly influenced by KT, followed by KWI, and was least impacted by KL. Digenic epistatic analysis identified 18 digenic interactions involving 34 loci over the entire genome. However, only a small proportion of them were identical to the main QTL we detected. Additionally, conditional digenic epistatic analysis revealed that the digenic epistasis for KW and KV were entirely determined by their constituent traits. The main QTL identified in this study for determining kernel-related traits with high broad-sense heritability may play important roles during kernel development. Furthermore, digenic interactions were shown to exert relatively large effects on KL (the highest AA and DD effects were 4.6% and 6.7%, respectively) and KT (the highest AA effects were 4.3%).
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spelling doaj-art-b717454eaf4d4a949caeabde80f84e332025-08-20T02:15:28ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0192e8964510.1371/journal.pone.0089645QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.Zhanhui ZhangZonghua LiuYanmin HuWeihua LiZhiyuan FuDong DingHaochuan LiMengmeng QiaoJihua TangKernel size and weight are important determinants of grain yield in maize. In this study, multivariate conditional and unconditional quantitative trait loci (QTL), and digenic epistatic analyses were utilized in order to elucidate the genetic basis for these kernel-related traits. Five kernel-related traits, including kernel weight (KW), volume (KV), length (KL), thickness (KT), and width (KWI), were collected from an immortalized F2 (IF2) maize population comprising of 243 crosses performed at two separate locations over a span of two years. A total of 54 unconditional main QTL for these five kernel-related traits were identified, many of which were clustered in chromosomal bins 6.04-6.06, 7.02-7.03, and 10.06-10.07. In addition, qKL3, qKWI6, qKV10a, qKV10b, qKW10a, and qKW7a were detected across multiple environments. Sixteen main QTL were identified for KW conditioned on the other four kernel traits (KL, KWI, KT, and KV). Thirteen main QTL were identified for KV conditioned on three kernel-shape traits. Conditional mapping analysis revealed that KWI and KV had the strongest influence on KW at the individual QTL level, followed by KT, and then KL; KV was mostly strongly influenced by KT, followed by KWI, and was least impacted by KL. Digenic epistatic analysis identified 18 digenic interactions involving 34 loci over the entire genome. However, only a small proportion of them were identical to the main QTL we detected. Additionally, conditional digenic epistatic analysis revealed that the digenic epistasis for KW and KV were entirely determined by their constituent traits. The main QTL identified in this study for determining kernel-related traits with high broad-sense heritability may play important roles during kernel development. Furthermore, digenic interactions were shown to exert relatively large effects on KL (the highest AA and DD effects were 4.6% and 6.7%, respectively) and KT (the highest AA effects were 4.3%).https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0089645&type=printable
spellingShingle Zhanhui Zhang
Zonghua Liu
Yanmin Hu
Weihua Li
Zhiyuan Fu
Dong Ding
Haochuan Li
Mengmeng Qiao
Jihua Tang
QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.
PLoS ONE
title QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.
title_full QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.
title_fullStr QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.
title_full_unstemmed QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.
title_short QTL analysis of Kernel-related traits in maize using an immortalized F2 population.
title_sort qtl analysis of kernel related traits in maize using an immortalized f2 population
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0089645&type=printable
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