Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in Maize

Grain yield establishment is a complex progress and the genetic basis of one of the most important yield components, 100-kernel weight, remains largely unknown. Here, we employed a double haploid (DH) population containing 477 lines which was developed from a cross of two maize elite inbred lines, P...

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Main Authors: Huawei Li, Hao Li, Jian Chen, Xiangbo Zhang, Baobao Wang, Shujun Zhi, Haiying Guan, Weibin Song, Jinsheng Lai, Haiming Zhao, Rixin Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1737
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author Huawei Li
Hao Li
Jian Chen
Xiangbo Zhang
Baobao Wang
Shujun Zhi
Haiying Guan
Weibin Song
Jinsheng Lai
Haiming Zhao
Rixin Gao
author_facet Huawei Li
Hao Li
Jian Chen
Xiangbo Zhang
Baobao Wang
Shujun Zhi
Haiying Guan
Weibin Song
Jinsheng Lai
Haiming Zhao
Rixin Gao
author_sort Huawei Li
collection DOAJ
description Grain yield establishment is a complex progress and the genetic basis of one of the most important yield components, 100-kernel weight, remains largely unknown. Here, we employed a double haploid (DH) population containing 477 lines which was developed from a cross of two maize elite inbred lines, PHBA6 and Chang7-2, to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that related to 100-kernel weight. The phenotypes of the DH population were acquired over three years in two different locations, while the DH lines were genotyped by next-generation sequencing technology of massively parallel 3ʹ end RNA sequencing (MP3RNA-seq). Eventually, 28,874 SNPs from 436 DH lines were preserved after SNP calling and filtering and a genetic map with a length of 837 cM was constructed. Then, single environment QTL analysis was performed using the R/qtl program, and it was found that a total of 17 QTLs related to 100-kernel weight were identified and distributed across the whole genome except chromosomes 5 and 6. The total phenotypic variation explained by QTLs detected in three different environments (BJ2016, BJ2107, and HN2018) was 22.2%, 32.9%, and 51.38%, respectively. Among these QTLs, three of them were identified across different environments as environmentally stable QTLs and explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variance each. Together, the results provided in this study preliminarily revealed the genetic basis of 100-kernel weight and will enhance molecular breeding for key agronomic kernel-related traits in maize.
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spelling doaj-art-fd47cc181028475bae1407a33cb7fc8e2025-08-20T03:16:36ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011412173710.3390/plants14121737Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in MaizeHuawei Li0Hao Li1Jian Chen2Xiangbo Zhang3Baobao Wang4Shujun Zhi5Haiying Guan6Weibin Song7Jinsheng Lai8Haiming Zhao9Rixin Gao10Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaGuangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Bioengineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510316, ChinaBiotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaMaize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaMaize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaMaize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaGrain yield establishment is a complex progress and the genetic basis of one of the most important yield components, 100-kernel weight, remains largely unknown. Here, we employed a double haploid (DH) population containing 477 lines which was developed from a cross of two maize elite inbred lines, PHBA6 and Chang7-2, to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that related to 100-kernel weight. The phenotypes of the DH population were acquired over three years in two different locations, while the DH lines were genotyped by next-generation sequencing technology of massively parallel 3ʹ end RNA sequencing (MP3RNA-seq). Eventually, 28,874 SNPs from 436 DH lines were preserved after SNP calling and filtering and a genetic map with a length of 837 cM was constructed. Then, single environment QTL analysis was performed using the R/qtl program, and it was found that a total of 17 QTLs related to 100-kernel weight were identified and distributed across the whole genome except chromosomes 5 and 6. The total phenotypic variation explained by QTLs detected in three different environments (BJ2016, BJ2107, and HN2018) was 22.2%, 32.9%, and 51.38%, respectively. Among these QTLs, three of them were identified across different environments as environmentally stable QTLs and explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variance each. Together, the results provided in this study preliminarily revealed the genetic basis of 100-kernel weight and will enhance molecular breeding for key agronomic kernel-related traits in maize.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1737maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.)QTL mapping100-kernel weightDH population
spellingShingle Huawei Li
Hao Li
Jian Chen
Xiangbo Zhang
Baobao Wang
Shujun Zhi
Haiying Guan
Weibin Song
Jinsheng Lai
Haiming Zhao
Rixin Gao
Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in Maize
Plants
maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.)
QTL mapping
100-kernel weight
DH population
title Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in Maize
title_full Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in Maize
title_fullStr Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in Maize
title_full_unstemmed Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in Maize
title_short Genetic Mapping of QTL Associated with 100-Kernel Weight Using a DH Population in Maize
title_sort genetic mapping of qtl associated with 100 kernel weight using a dh population in maize
topic maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.)
QTL mapping
100-kernel weight
DH population
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1737
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