大豆脂肪酸主要组分含量QTL定位

以中黄13×中黄20的100个BC₂F₂家系为作图群体,构建了一张包含131个SSR分子标记的遗传连锁图谱,图谱总长为2157.3 cM,平均遗传距离为16.5 cM,涵盖了大豆的20个连锁群。利用气相色谱技术测定BC₂F₂、BC₂F₃和BC₂F₄回交群体的脂肪酸主要组分含量,采用IciMapping 3.3完备区间作图法定位QTL,共检测到5种脂肪酸组分相关的QTL 26个,与棕榈酸、硬脂酸、油酸、亚油酸和亚麻酸相关的QTL分别为5、5、7、5和4个;3个区间在不同年份被检测到与同一脂肪酸组分相关,sat_294~satt228连续3年被检测到与棕榈酸含量相关,sat_253~satt323和sat_292~satt397连续2年被检测到与油酸含量相关;4个区间被检测到与2种脂肪酸组分相关,其中sat_294~satt228与棕榈酸、油酸相关,satt308~sat_422与硬脂酸、亚油酸相关,sat_292~satt397与油酸、亚油酸相关,satt374~satt269与油酸、亚麻酸相关。     

水稻第1染色体长臂上微效千粒重QTL qTGW1.2的验证与分解

本文报道了水稻第1染色体长臂上微效千粒重QTL qTGW1.2的验证和分解。针对前期qTGW1.2定位结果, 应用SSR标记检测, 从籼籼交组合珍汕97³/密阳46衍生的1个BC₂F_{7分离群体中, 筛选到杂合区间分别为RM11621-RM297和RM212-RM265的2个单株, 构建了两套BC2F8:9近等基因系, 将qTGW1.2进一步界定在RM212-RM265及其两侧交换区间的区域内。}在此基础上, 筛选出5个在目标区间内分离片段缩小且呈阶梯状排列的单株, 衍生了5套BC₂F₁₀分离群体, 应用Windows QTL Cartographer 2.5进行QTL分析。结果表明, 每套群体均检测到千粒重QTL, 加性效应为0.13~0.38 g, 来自密阳46的等位基因提高千粒重; 经比较各个群体的分离区间, 将qTGW1.2分解为互引连锁的2个QTL, 其中, qTGW1.2a位于RM11730和RM11762之间934 kb的区域内, 呈加性作用, qTGW1.2b位于RM11800和RM11885之间2.1 Mb的区域内, 呈正向超显性。     

利用4个姊妹近等基因群体定位水稻粒重和粒形QTL

粒重是决定水稻产量的三要素之一。利用世界上粒重最大的品种之一SLG-1(供体亲本)与小粒品种日本晴(Nipponbare,轮回亲本)杂交,在各回交世代选择粒重较大单株与日本晴回交,构建水稻粒重和粒形的姊妹近等基因系(SNILs)。对获得的73 株BC₄F₁单株进行粒重频率分布统计,选择粒重频率分布在4个峰值处的代表性单株,自交获得4个BC₄F₂ SNILs群体。利用BSA法(分离群体分组混合分析法),从均匀分布在水稻染色体上的1 513对SSR标记中筛选出与粒重和粒形相关的多态性标记19对,以LOD≥2.5作为选择阈值,对粒重、粒长、粒宽和粒厚进行QTL扫描,共检测到6个区域的12个QTL,贡献率从7.22%到53.38%。这些QTL所在区域包含已克隆的粒长GS3和粒宽GW2,也包含没有精细定位的第2染色体的RM6318-RM1367、第3染色体的RM5477–RM6417和第6染色体的RM3370–RM1161等3个区域控制粒重和粒形的5个QTL。其中第3染色体上RM5477–RM6417区间存在粒形贡献率较大的新的QTL。构建含有这些粒重QTL的姊妹近等基因系,为进一步精细定位或克隆新的粒重或粒形QTL奠定了基础。     

Evaluation of Restorability of Two Fertility Restorer Genes in the Rice Chromosome Single Segment Substitution Lines (SSSLs)

由华南农业大学选育的水稻单片段代换系S15对于野败型(WA)和矮败型(DA)细胞质雄性不育系均具有较强的恢复性。以野败型不育系博白A和矮败型不育系协青早A为母本, 单片段代换系S15为父本杂交, 采用分子标记辅助选择和连续回交的方法构建了两个BC₃F₂群体。利用与第1、第10染色体上恢复基因Rf3和Rf4两侧紧密连锁的SSR标记, 从这2个BC₃F₂群体中筛选携带基因型Rf3Rf3/rf4rf4和rf3rf3/Rf4Rf4的单株, 观察这些单株花粉和小穗育性, 并利用202个多态性SSR标记分析这些单株的遗传背景, 结果表明: (1)在同一细胞核背景下(S15), DA型细胞质的可恢复性好于WA型细胞质, 单片段代换系S15中的恢复基因Rf4的恢复力大于恢复基因Rf3的恢复力。(2)单片段代换系S15中的恢复基因对于WA型不育系博白A和DA型不育系协青早A表现出质量-数量性状的遗传。在单片段代换系S15中, 除了主效恢复基因Rf3和Rf4外, 微效基因或者修饰基因也表现出对于博白A和协青早A的恢复性作用, 而且效应较大。(3)在构建的2个BC₃F₂群体中, 携带基因型Rf3Rf3/rf4rf4和rf3rf3/Rf4Rf4单株的遗传背景片段数平均为1.0, 对应于恢复基因Rf3和Rf4座位的代换片段平均长度分别为12.9 cM和18.4 cM。     

海岛棉CSSLs分子评价及纤维品质、产量性状QTL定位

本课题组前期以陆地棉中棉所8号(CCRI8)为轮回亲本, 海岛棉Pima 90-53为供体亲本培育了一套陆地棉中棉所8号为背景的海岛棉染色体片段置换系(CSSLs), 本研究利用SSR标记对该置换系群体BC₃F₅进行基因型检测, 在3个不同环境下(河北保定、青县和新疆轮台)鉴定其纤维品质和产量相关性状并进行QTL定位。该置换系群体包含182个家系, 置换片段数在1~15个之间, 平均为6.6个; 导入片段长度在0.7~83.2 cM之间, 平均长度为16.8 cM; 置换片段总长度20 249.6 cM; 背景回复率在92.3%~99.6%之间, 平均为96.2%。共检测出59个相关的QTL, 其中与纤维品质性状相关的41个, 单个QTL的贡献率为1.27%~26.66%; 与产量性状相关的18个, 单个QTL的贡献率为2.03%~19.38%; 检测到14个稳定的QTL, 其中4个马克隆值和2个纤维伸长率相关的稳定QTL增效基因均来自高值亲本海岛棉Pima 90-53, 2个铃重相关的稳定QTL增效基因来自高值亲本陆地棉中棉所8号。研究结果为深入开展纤维品质和产量性状的QTL精细定位、QTL间互作和分子育种提供了理论依据。     

基于MAS技术对水稻保持系软华B稻瘟病抗性的分子改良

为选育优质抗稻瘟病保持系软华B,以携带稻瘟病抗性基因Pi46和Pi2的优质籼稻H281作为供体亲本、以软华B为轮回亲本,利用分子标记辅助选择(MAS)技术结合系谱选育法,聚合2个外源基因以改良保持系软华B。对性状稳定的改良株系进行稻瘟病抗性鉴定、稻米品质分析等。通过回交及多代自交,并结合分子标记检测,获得以软华B为遗传背景且含有2个纯合目标基因的BC₁F₆群体2个、BC₂F₅群体2个、BC₃F₄群体2个。田间自然诱发鉴定结果表明,不同回交世代改良材料在自然病圃均抗稻瘟病;育性鉴定结果显示,回交世代对不育系的不育度为52.7%～100.0%;农艺性状考查及米质分析表明,改良株系基本保留了软华B的主要农艺性状和稻米品质特性。SNP基因芯片分析结果显示,BC₁F₆的背景回复率为74.42%～77.77%,BC₂F₅的背景回复率为86.42%～87.75%,BC₃     

CIMMYT小麦种质C615抗叶锈病QTL分析

由Puccinia triticina引起的叶锈病是小麦主要病害之一, 引进种质C615具有叶锈病成株期抗性, 但其抗病性遗传机制尚不清楚。本研究以抗病亲本C615与高感叶锈病亲本宁麦18构建的F_2:7代重组自交系群体为材料, 利用337对多态性SSR标记构建遗传连锁图谱, 结合2016、2017连续两年的叶锈病鉴定结果进行复合区间作图, 结果在1BL、2DS、3BS、4DL和6BS染色体上共发现了5个抗性QTL, 暂命名为QLr.njau-1BL、QLr.njau-2DS、QLr.njau-3BS、QLr.njau-4DL和QLr.njau-6BS。其中, QLr.njau-1BL、QLr.njau-3BS和QLr.njau-4DL在两年均被检测到, 分别解释10.1%~15.7%、10.9%~13.5%和8.2%~9.0%的表型变异; 另2个QTL只在一年被检测到, 解释6.2%和9.2%的表型变异。除QLr.njau-2DS外的4个抗性QTL均来源于抗病亲本C615。QLr.njau-1BL和QLr.njau-4DL分别与已报道的慢病性基因Lr46、Lr67在同一区域, QLr.njau-3B可能为一个新的抗叶锈病QTL。此外, 本研究在C615/扬麦13 (轮回亲本)BC₄F₅回交群体中选出了15个农艺性状优良且抗叶锈病的株系, 利用与C615所含抗性QTL紧密连锁的7个SSR标记对其进行基因型检测, 结果显示所有这15个株系均含有来自C615的抗性QTL, 且有3个株系聚合了全部抗性位点, 表明C615可作为抗源亲本用于高产、抗病育种。本研究结果将为分子标记选育抗叶锈品种提供材料和技术支撑。     

大豆质核互作雄性不育系NJCMS3A双亲雄性育性基因的SSR标记

利用大豆质核互作雄性不育系NJMCS3A的质、核供体亲本N21566和N21249构建F₂和BC₁F₁育性分离群体进行雄性育性的遗传分析与基因定位。结果表明, F₁正反交可育,F₂和BC₁F₁的可育株与不育株分离比例经χ²测验分别符合3∶1和1∶1,表明NJCMS3A供体亲本雄性育性由一对基因控制,可育等位基因为显性。该基因可能是NJCMS3A的一个恢复基因。选用793对SSR引物对F₂和BC₁F₁群体分别进行育性基因定位,发现该育性基因位于O连锁群上,在Satt331和Satt477标记之间,与Satt331、CSSR133和Satt477标记距离的次序一致,分别为8.1~10.4 cM、11.4~16.4 cM、13.3~19.2 cM。     

玉米SSR连锁图谱构建与株高及穗位高QTL定位

用玉米自交系组合R15×掖478的F₂群体构建连锁图谱,并通过1年2点随机区组试验设计,考察玉米229个F_2:4家系成株期的株高和穗位高。所建连锁图谱上共拟合146个SSR标记位点,覆盖基因组1 666 cM,标记间平均距离为11.4 cM。用复合区间作图法进行QTL分析,共检测到8个控制株高的QTL,分别位于第2、3、4、5和8染色体;3个控制穗位高的QTL位点,位于第4染色体。单个株高QTL的贡献率变幅为6.67%~11.59%,单个穗位高QTL贡献率变幅为10.46%~12.15%。     

蓖麻有效穗数QTL定位及候选基因鉴定

有效穗数是蓖麻产量的重要构成因子。为揭示蓖麻有效穗数的遗传基础及挖掘其候选基因，利用表型差异显著的2个亲本杂交构建F₂和BC₁(F₁×P₂)群体，通过SSR引物基因分型以及CIM和ICIM-ADD 2种检测方法对单株有效穗数和一级分枝有效穗数进行QTL定位，并以相同方法在S₁群体进一步验证QTL重复性。在F₂群体中共检测到9/5(CIM/ICIM-ADD,下同)个QTL,其中，单株有效穗数和一级分枝有效穗数QTL分别为3/2,6/3个，分别解释了6.70%/11.87%和25.15%/13.87%的表型变异。BC₁群体的定位结果与F₂群体基本一致。其中，qESNPP3.1和qEPBSN3.1为稳定QTL,贡献率都接近10%,后者在S₁群体中再次检测到，贡献率为13.27%;它们在RCM915～RCM950标记区间内重叠分布，共同构成1个调控蓖麻有效穗数的主效QTL簇。从RCM915～RCM9...     

利用永久F2群体在不同光周期环境下定位玉米株高QTL

为了研究热带玉米株高的遗传机制, 利用温热组合黄早四×CML288衍生的重组自交系群体构建了一个包含278个组合的永久F₂群体, 分别在海南三亚、河南郑州和洛阳、北京昌平和顺义等5个地点3种光周期环境中进行株高鉴定。利用复合区间作图法在3种光周期环境下共定位到12个不同的玉米株高QTL。位于第1染色体上的qPH1-2和位于第4染色体上的QTL qPH4在3个环境中同时被检测到, 表明这2个QTL在不同日照环境下均能稳定表达。位于第3染色体上的qPH3在短日照环境下能解释株高遗传变异的32.13%, 而在2个长日照环境下并未被检测到, 表明此QTL是短日照环境下特异表达的主效QTL。第10染色体上QTL qPH10-1分别解释2个长日照环境中株高遗传变异的25.39%和39.58%, 是长日照环境下特异表达的主效株高QTL。     

发掘人工合成小麦中千粒重QTL的有利等位基因

以人工合成小麦Am3为供体亲本,普通小麦莱州953为轮回亲本,经5次回交然后自交,培育出含85个株系的F_2:3群体。以该群体为材料,用348对多态性SSR标记,进行全基因组扫描,发掘人工合成小麦中千粒重QTL的有利等位基因。利用复合区间作图法检测到3个千粒重QTL,其对表型变异的贡献率为10.9%~33.79%。其中,Am3的等位基因能够增加千粒重2.3~4.8 g。相关分析表明,该导入系群体的千粒重与穗粒数、穗数和株高无显著相关性。千粒重QTL与穗粒数、穗数性状的QTL不在同一位置,这有利于高千粒重基因与其他产量性状基因的聚合。采用混合线性模型作图法检测到1个千粒重QTL(QGw.caas-3D),该QTL与环境互作效应小,而且与复合区间作图法在3个环境中都检测到的QTL相同,表明QGw.caas-3D是一个稳定的主效QTL。     

Mapping QTLs for salt tolerance in an introgression line population between Japonica cultivars in rice

QTL analysis of physiological traits related to salt tolerance was carried out using 117 BC₃F₅ lines derived from a cross between “Ilpumbyeo” as a recurrent parent and “Moroberekan” as a donor parent. The 117 introgression lines with the parents were evaluated for five traits; dry weight, fresh weight, leaf area, seedling height, and survival rate under control and salinity conditions (55 mM) at the seedling stage. To identify QTLs related to salt tolerance, 125 SSR markers showing polymorphisms between the parents were genotyped for the 117 BC₃F₅ lines. A total of eight QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1, 6, and 7. These include two QTLs on chromosomes 6 and 7 for reduction rate of dry weight (R² = 10.2∼13.6%), three QTLs on chromosomes 1, 6, and 7 for reduction rate of fresh weight (R² = 10.9∼13.9 %), two QTLs on chromosomes 1 and 7 for reduction rate of leaf area (R² = 12.1%), and one QTL on chromosome 7 for reduction rate of seedling height (R² = 10.5%). The Moroberekan alleles contributed the positive effect at these eight QTL loci. Although the parents, Ilpumbyeo and Moroberekan, were not salt tolerant as the salt tolerant check variety, Pokkali, some lines displayed a similar level of tolerance as Pokkali. The effect of the QTL on chromosome 7 was further confirmed by evaluating four lines containing the target QTL for fresh and dry weight, turgid weight, and relative water content (RWC). Significant differences between each line and Ilpumbyeo were detected for dry and fresh weight, and RWC values, and these results seem to indicate the beneficial effect of the Moroberekam alleles for salt tolerance. A set of introgression lines are being developed containing only few chromosomal segments from Moroberekan in the Ilpumbyeo background. These would be useful in developing salt tolerant lines in the breeding program.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci for awnness and yield component traits in isogenic lines derived from an Oryza sativa / O. rufipogon cross

An advanced backcross line, HR9118, was produced from a single plant of BC₂F₃ families derived from a cross between Oryza rufipogon Griff. (IRGC 105491) as a donor parent and the O. sativa subsp. japonica cv. Hwaseongbyeo as a recurrent parent. Although HR9118 resembled Hwaseongbyeo, several traits were different from those of Hwasoengbyeo, including days to heading, plant height, and awn. These differences between Hwasongbyeo and HR9118 could be attributed to introgressed O. rufipogon chromosome segments into HR9118. Introgression analysis using 460 SSR markers revealed that three O. rufipogon-specific chromosome segments were detected in HR9118 genome. F_2:3 populations derived from the cross between Hwaseongbyo and HR9118, consisting of 340 F₂ plants and 137 F₃ lines, were used to map and characterize QTLs for 12 traits. QTL analysis identified a total of 17 QTLs in the F_2:3 populations. Of these, seven QTLs were shared by the F₂ and F₃ populations, whereas the other ten QTLs were identified only in the F₃ population. In seven (41.2%) QTLs identified in this study, the O. rufipogon-derived alleles contributed desirable agronomic effects despite the overall undesirable characteristics of the wild phenotype. Each of three O. rufipogon introgressed segments contained multiple QTLs, indicating linkage and/or pleotropic effects. A cluster of eight QTLs was detected on chromosome 8 including a major QTL for awn. Substitution mapping using F₂ population indicated that awn8 was located within an interval between two SSR makers RM23326 and RM23356 which are 590 kb apart. SSR markers tightly linked to QTLs for yield components detected in this study will facilitate cloning of the gene underlying this QTL as well as marker-assisted selection for variation in grain weight in an applied breeding program.     

Confirmation of a major QTL on chromosome 10 for maize kernel row number in different environments

Maize kernel row number (KRN) is an important agronomic trait. In this study, 13 quantitative trait loci (QTL) for maize KRN were identified in different environments using F_2:3 and F_2:4 populations developed from two inbred lines. These QTL are distributed on chromosomes 2,3,5,8 and 10, and the genic effects are additive or partially dominant. Using the BC₃F_2:3 populations developed from the same parental lines, QTL of KRN located on chromosomes 5 and 10 were also identified in two environments. Three BC₅F_2:3 populations were used to confirm the major QTL for KRN between ssr1430 and umc1077 on chromosome 10(qKRN10). This result will facilitate the fine mapping and map‐based cloning of this major QTL in the future.     

Construction and characterization of 3-S Lines, an alternative population for mapping studies in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Most traits of agronomic importance in rice are quantitative in nature and are controlled by polygenes, called quantitative trait loci (QTL). Understanding the nature and effect of QTLs are important for rice breeding to achieve higher yield and stability. Single segment substitution lines (SSSLs or 3-S Lines) were developed through simple sequence repeats (SSR) marker-facilitated backcrossing methods for Hua-Jing-Xian 74 (HJX74) with the donor segment from six elite germplasm and was characterized. Complete genome survey was carried out with 258 polymorphic SSR markers. Polymorphism of the donors with the recurrent parent varied between 32.98 and 60.73% with an average of 47.81%. Japonica donors were more polymorphic than indica donors. Number of substitution segments per plant decreased with the advancement of backcross generations. In BC₂F_1, BC₃F₁, BC₃F₂ and BC₃F₃ the average number of substitution segment per plant were 12.5, 5.98, 1.69 and 1.46, respectively. Average size of substitution segments also decreased with the number of times plants were backcrossed and selfed. In BC₂F₁, BC₃F₁, BC₃F₂ and BC₃F_3, average size of the segments was 25.43, 22.38, 20.78 and 18.15 cM, respectively. The rate of reduction of segment size was more in backcross (11.99%) than selfing (7.15%) generations. Percent recovery of recurrent parent genome in BC₂F₁, BC₃F₁, BC₃F₂ and BC₃F₃ was 82.24, 92.55, 98.04 and 98.52%, respectively. A total of 111 SSSLs comprising of 43 unique types were developed in BC₃F₂ and BC₃F₃. The estimated length of the segments in SSSLs ranged from 2.00 to 64.80 cM with an average of 21.75 cM, and 6.05 to 48.90 cM with an average of 20.95 cM in BC₃F₂ and BC₃F₃, respectively. Total length of all substitution segments was 2367.5 cM that covered 704.50 cM (39.25%) of the entire rice genome. Effective development and successful utilization of 3-S Lines for analysis of QTLs and mapping of genes established the suitability of the SSR marker facilitated backcross breeding approach for 3-S Lines development and its utilization.     

Development of high yielding IR64 × <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza rufipogon</Emphasis> (Griff.) introgression lines and identification of introgressed alien chromosome segments using SSR markers

Modern rice varieties that ushered in the green revolution brought about dramatic increase in rice production worldwide but at the cost of genetic diversity at the farmers’ fields. The wild species germplasm can be used for broadening the genetic base and improving productivity. Mining of alleles at productivity QTL from related wild species under simultaneous backcrossing and evaluation, accompanied by molecular marker analysis has emerged as an effective plant breeding strategy for utilization of wild species germplasm. In the present study, a limited backcross strategy was used to introgress QTL associated with yield and yield components from Oryza rufipogon (acc. IRGC 105491) to cultivated rice, O. sativa cv IR64. A set of 12 BC₂F₆ progenies, selected from among more than 100 BC₂F₅ progenies were evaluated for yield and yield components. For plant height, days to 50% flowering and tillers/plant, the introgression lines did not show any significant change compared to the recurrent parent IR64. For yield, 9 of the 12 introgression lines showed significantly higher yield (19–38%) than the recurrent parent IR64. Four of these lines originating from a common lineage showed higher yield due to increase in grain weight and another three also from a common lineage showed yield increase due to increase in grain number per panicle. For analyzing the introgression at molecular level all the 12 lines were analyzed for 259 polymorphic SSR markers. Of the total 259 SSR markers analyzed, only 18 (7.0%) showed introgression from O. rufipogon for chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 11. Graphical genotypes have been prepared for each line and association between the introgression regions and the traits that increased yield is reported. Based on marker trait association it appears that some of the QTL are stable across the environments and genetic backgrounds and can be exploited universally.     

Potential of wild germplasm for increasing yield of grain sorghum

Summary Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] backcross populations containing 3 to 50% wild germplasm were evaluated in south central India for grain yield and nine related traits. No individual BC₀F₂- to BC₂F₂-derived lines were high transgressive segregates for grain yield. Only 1.5% of all BC₃F₂- or BC₄F₂-derived lines were transgressive segragates, with 26% higher mean grain yield than their respective recurrent parents. The ten highest-yielding BC₂F₂- to BC₄F₂-derived lines per mating having parent CK60B yielded an average of 14% more than CK60B, which was, at the 5% level, a statistically significant difference. However, the increased yield was associated with increased plant height. The highest-yilding lines from RS/R/A2725 x virgatum and RS/R/A2725 x verticilliflorum were an average of 13.5% higher-yielding than RS/R/A2725 (a significant difference) and were equal in plant height. Selection increased BC₂ mean grain yields by 6 to 27%. Population mean yield, mean yield of selected lines, and frequency of high-yielding lines were highest in the BC₄.Journal paper no. 380, ICRISAT, Patancheru, India; Journal paper no. J-11114, Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, USA.     

Identification and validation of a yield-enhancing QTL cluster in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Improvement of rice grain yield (YD) is an important goal in rice breeding. YD is determined by its related traits such as spikelet fertility (SF), 1,000-grain weight (TGW), and the number of spikelets per panicle (SPP). We previously mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for SPP and TGW using the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the crosses between Minghui 63 and Teqing. In this study, four QTLs for SF and four QTLs for YD were detected in the RILs. Comparison of the locations of QTLs for these three yield-related traits identified one QTL cluster in the interval between RM3400 and RM3646 on chromosome 3. The QTL cluster contained three QTLs, SPP3a, SF3 and TGW3a, but no YD QTL was located there. To validate the QTL cluster, a BC₄F₂ population was obtained, in which SPP3a, SF3 and TGW3a were simultaneously mapped to the same region. SPP3a, SF3 and TGW3a explained 36.3, 29.5 and 59.0 % of phenotype variance with additive effect of 16.4 spikelets, 6 % SF and 1.8 g grain weight, respectively. In the BC₄F₂ population, though the region has opposite effects on TGW and SPP/SF, a YD QTL YD3 identified in this cluster region can increase 4.6 g grains per plant, which suggests this QTL cluster is a yield-enhancing QTL cluster and can be targeted to improve rice yield by marker aided selection.     

Further QTL mapping for yield component traits using introgression lines in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) under drought field environments

To better understand the underlying mechanisms of agronomic traits related to drought resistance and discover candidate genes or chromosome segments for drought-tolerant rice breeding, a fundamental introgression population, BC₃, derived from the backcross of local upland rice cv. Haogelao (donor parent) and super yield lowland rice cv. Shennong265 (recurrent parent) had been constructed before 2006. Previous quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping results using 180 and 94 BC₃F_6,7 rice introgression lines (ILs) with 187 and 130 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for agronomy and physiology traits under drought in the field have been reported in 2009 and 2012, respectively. In this report, we conducted further QTL mapping for grain yield component traits under water-stressed (WS) and well-watered (WW) field conditions during 3 years (2012, 2013 and 2014). We used 62 SSR markers, 41 of which were newly screened, and 492 BC₄F_2,4 core lines derived from the fourth backcross between D123, an elite drought-tolerant IL (BC₃F₇), and Shennong265. Under WS conditions, a total of 19 QTLs were detected, all of which were associated with the new SSRs. Each QTL was only identified in 1 year and one site except for qPL-12-1 and qPL-5, which additively increased panicle length under drought stress. qPL-12-1 was detected in 2013 between new marker RM1337 and old marker RM3455 (34.39 cM) and was a major QTL with high reliability and 15.36% phenotypic variance. qPL-5 was a minor QTL detected in 2013 and 2014 between new marker RM5693 and old marker RM3476. Two QTLs for plant height (qPHL-3-1 and qPHP-12) were detected under both WS and WW conditions in 1 year and one site. qPHL-3-1, a major QTL from Shennong265 for decreasing plant height of leaf located on chromosome 3 between two new markers, explained 22.57% of phenotypic variation with high reliability under WS conditions. On the contrary, qPHP-12 was a minor QTL for increasing plant height of panicle from Haogelao on chromosome 12. Except for these two QTLs, all other 17 QTLs mapped under WS conditions were not mapped under WW conditions; thus, they were all related to drought tolerance. Thirteen QTLs mapped from Haogelao under WS conditions showed improved drought tolerance. However, a major QTL for delayed heading date from Shennong265, qDHD-12, enhanced drought tolerance, was located on chromosome 12 between new marker RM1337 and old marker RM3455 (11.11 cM), explained 21.84% of phenotypic variance and showed a negative additive effect (shortening delay days under WS compared with WW). Importantly, chromosome 12 was enriched with seven QTLs, five of which, including major qDHD-12, congregated near new marker RM1337. In addition, four of the seven QTLs improved drought resistance and were located between RM1337 and RM3455, including three minor QTLs from Haogelao for thousand kernel weight, tiller number and panicle length, respectively, and the major QTL qDHD-12 from Shennong265. These results strongly suggested that the newly screened RM1337 marker may be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in drought-tolerant rice breeding and that there is a pleiotropic gene or cluster of genes linked to drought tolerance. Another major QTL (qTKW-1-2) for increasing thousand kernel weight from Haogelao was also identified under WW conditions. These results are helpful for MAS in rice breeding and drought-resistant gene cloning.