Genetic analysis of the response to day length in rice

Summary Inheritance of time-to-flowering, plant height, tiller number, spikelet number and flag leaf area was studied under day lengths of 10 and 14 hours in a diallel cross of six rice varieties. Early flowering was dominant to late in both environments but the varieties flowering early in one environment were late flowering in the other. Analysis of F₁ and F₂ data from the cross of Heenati-310 x IR-8 suggested a digenic control of early flowering in short days with complementary interaction. It is considered that while relatively few genes control time-to-flowering in rice a previous proposal that separate genes for time-to-flowering and photoperiod sensitivity exist is unnecessary on present evidence. Whereas culm length, tiller number and flag leaf area were increased by longer days, the number of spikelets per panicle was reduced. The length of the panicle was little affected by changing environment, and throughout certain characters and varieties, such as tiller number in I-geo-tze, were more stable than others. Varietal crosses of Heenati-310 x IR-8 and Tainan x MI-273(m) appeared to give high yield potential.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping for flag leaf traits in rice using a chromosome segment substitution line population

To study the genetic basis of rice flag leaf morphology, quantitative genetic analysis was conducted in a population of 37 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) of indica elite variety ‘Habataki’ in the background of japonica cultivar ‘Sasanishiki’ across three different environments. The CSSLs showed normal distribution with transgressive segregation, indicating that these four traits are controlled by polygenes. Moreover, analyses of variance showed that these traits were highly influenced by the growing environment, which are typical for polygenic quantitative traits. Seven quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on four chromosomes were detected in total: four for flag leaf width, one for flag leaf area and two for flag leaf angle. Two key QTLs, qFLW4 and qFLAG5 controlling flag leaf width and angle, respectively, were identified in all three environments. These QTLs could provide useful information for marker‐assisted selection in improving the performance of plant architecture with regard to leaf angle and area. Moreover, developed CSSLs with these QTLs information are also useful research materials to reveal the importance of leaf morphology in relation to grain yield.     

Genotypic association between grain yield and six agronomic traits in a cross between rice varieties of contrasting plant type

Summary Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients as well as path analysis were computed to evaluate the genetic association between six agronomic traits and rice grain yield and also among the traits in a representative sample of F₇ lines in the tall Peta × semi-dwarf I-geo-tze cross maintained as an unselected bulk from F₃ through F₅. Data were taken on grain yield, duration from seeding to heading, panicle number, ratio of panicles to tillers, angle of the flag leaf, angle of the leaf below the flag leaf, and plant height on the two parents and 139 F₇ lines. The F₇ lines were divided into three groups based on plant height: tall, intermediate, and short (semi-dwarf).Differences in grain yield were highly significant among lines in the tall and short groups, and significant among the intermediate lines. Significant to highly significant differences among lines were obtained in each of the height groups for all of the agronomic traits except for the ratio of panicles to tillers in the intermediate and tall groups.Path analysis showed that among the semi-dwarf progenies, erect flag leaf angle made the largest positive contribution to grain yield, followed by high panicle number and early maturity. Among the intermediates, the erectness of the leaf below the flag contributed most to high yield and was closely followed by earliness in maturity. For the tall lines, erect leaves below the flag leaf and high panicle number contributed positively to yield, whereas tallness and late maturity had a negative effect.Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients indicated that low grain yield was closely associated with tall stature, drooping leaves, and low panicle number in the tall lines. In the intermediate lines, low grain yield was associated with late maturity and drooping leaves. Among the semi-dwarf lines, high grain yield was correlated with erect flag leaves and a high ratio of panicles to tillers. When the lines in different height groups were combined, highly significant phenotypic correlations were obtained between high yield levels and erect leaves, a short plant stature, early maturity, or a high panicle number. Erect flag leaves and high yield levels were associated at a significant level. The genotypic correlation coefficients of the above paired traits were identical in sign and generally greater in value than the corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients.Mail address: P. O. Box 583, Manila, Philippines.     

不同生态区籼粳稻杂交F2代亚种属性与株型性状的特点

两个籼粳稻杂交F₂群体(F₂-A：晚轮422/沈农265、F₂-B：泸恢99/沈农265)分别在辽宁和四川种植,研究生态环境对亚种属性及其与株型性状相互关系的影响。结果表明,不同生态环境下F₂代植株籼粳属性均呈接近正态的连续变异,相对于四川,辽宁呈现明显的偏籼分布,生态环境对程氏指数六性状的影响并不完全一致。生态环境对株型特性也有较明显的影响,从四川到辽宁,株高和穗弯曲度显著提高,而穗长、剑叶长、剑叶宽及剑叶张角则表现降低趋势。不同地区株高的类型间差异没有明显规律性,剑叶长表现为籼型显著大于其他类型的趋势,剑叶张角地区和类型间大多无显著差异,不同地区剑叶宽的类型间差异因组合而异。总之不同地区从籼型到粳型,均有穗长递减而穗弯曲度递增的趋势。籼粳稻杂交F₂代植株个体籼粳属性与株型性状表现出一定的相关性,但相关的方向和程度在不同地区和组合间不完全一致。     

Fine mapping of the quantitative trait locus <Emphasis Type="Italic">qFLL9</Emphasis> controlling flag leaf length in rice

The morphological traits of leaves, such as size and shape, are major determinants of plant architecture and strongly affect high yield performance. To understand the molecular mechanism governing flag leaf length, we analyzed quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting flag leaf length by employing 176 F₂ individuals derived from a cross between two japonica rice cultivars: Shennong265 (SN265) and Lijiangxintuanheigu (LTH). We identified qFLL3, qFLL6 and qFLL9 from this F₂ population. Flag leaf length was increased by SN265 alleles at qFLL3 and qFLL6, but by LTH allele at qFLL9. In order to eliminate the influence of qFLL3 and qFLL6, one single residual heterozygous plant for qFLL9 region, RH-qFLL9, was selected based on the genotypes of 114 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and used as the parent of a segregating population. Using this segregating population of 889 plants, this region was narrowed down to an interval between RM24423 and RM24434. According to the rice annotation project database, there are 17 predicted genes in the 198-kb target region.     

Genomic characterization of drought tolerance-related traits in spring wheat

Drought tolerance was investigated in ‘C306’, one of the most drought tolerant wheat cultivars bred in India in the 1960’s. An intervarietal mapping population of recombinant inbred lines of the cross ‘C306’ × ‘HUW206’ was evaluated for drought tolerance components, namely potential quantum efficiency of photosystem (PS) II (F_v/F_m), chlorophyll content (Chl), flag leaf temperature (Lt), and grain yield per plant (Gyp) under stress. Three independent experiments were conducted under well-watered and water-stressed conditions in greenhouses and growth chambers at Kansas State University (USA). Five hundred and sixty microsatellite markers covering the entire genome were screened for polymorphism between the parents. A QTL (QLt.ksu-1D) for Lt (low flag leaf temperature under stress) on the short arm of chromosome 1D between markers Xbarc271 and Xgwm337 at LOD 3.5 explained 37% of the phenotypic variation. A QTL for F_v/F_m (QF _v /F _m .ksu-3B) and Chl (QChl.ksu-3B) controlling quantum efficiency of PS II and chlorophyll content under stress were co-localized on chromosome 3B in the marker interval Xbarc68–Xbarc101 and explained 35–40% of the phenotypic variation for each trait. A QTL (QGyp.ksu-4A) for Gyp on chromosome 4A at a LOD value of 3.2 explained 16.3% of the phenotypic variation. Inconsistent QTLs were observed for F_v/F_m on chromosomes 3A, 6A, 2B, 4B, and 4D; for Chl on 3A, 6A, 2B and 4B; and for Lt on 1A, 3A 6A, 3B and 5B. The identified QTLs give a first glimpse of the genetics of drought tolerance in C306 and need to be validated in field experiments using the marker-phenotype linkages reported here.     

Detection of quantitative trait locus for leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée)) resistance in rice on linkage group 1 based on damage score and flag leaf width

Rice leaffolder (RLF) (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) is a destructive and widespread insect pest throughout the rice growing regions in Asia. The genetics of resistance to RLF in rice is very complex and not thoroughly explored. The present study was conducted to detect the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with RLF resistance involving 176 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of F₈ generation derived from a cross between IR36, a leaffolder susceptible variety and TNAULFR831311, a moderately resistant indica rice culture. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to construct specific linkage groups of rice. All the RILs were screened to assess their level of resistance to RLF by measuring the leaf area damaged. Besides this, the length and width of the flag leaf of each RIL were measured since these two parameters were considered as correlated traits to the RLF resistance in rice. All the above parameters observed across the RILs showed quantitative variation. Correlation analysis revealed that damage score based on greenhouse screening was positively correlated with length and width of the flag leaf. Out of 364 SSR markers analysed, 90 were polymorphic between the parents. Multi-point analysis carried out on segregating 69 SSR marker loci linkage group wise resulted in construction of linkage map with eleven groups of 42 SSR markers. Through single marker analysis, 19 SSR markers were found to have putative association with the three phenotypic traits studied. Of these markers, RM472 was identified as a locus having major effect on RLF resistance trait based on length of the flag leaf. Interval mapping detected two QTLs on linkage group 1. Among these QTLs, the QTL flanked by RM576–RM3412 were found to be associated with width of the flag leaf and RLF resistance. The putative SSR markers associated with leaffolder resistance identified in the present study may be one of the loci contributing resistance to RLF in rice.     

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Aluminum Tolerance in Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

Summary Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for Al tolerance was performed in rice using a mapping population of 98 BC₁F₁₀ lines (backcross inbred lines: BILs), derived from a cross of Al-tolerant cultivar of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare) and Al-sensitive cultivar (cv. Kasalath). Three characters related to Al tolerance, including root elongation under non-stress conditions (CRE), root elongation under Al stress (SRE) and the relative root elongation (RRE) under Al stress versus non-stress conditions, were evaluated for the BILs and the parents at seedling stage. A total of seven QTLs for the three traits were identified. Among them, three putative QTLs for CRE (qCRE-6, qCRE-8 and qCRE-9) were mapped on chromosomes 6, 8 and 9, respectively. One QTL for SRE (qSRE-4) was identified on chromosome 4. Three QTLs (qRRE-5, qRRE-9 and qRRE-10) for RRE were detected on chromosomes 5, 9, 10 and accounted for 9.7–11.8% of total phenotypic variation. Interestingly, the QTL qRRE-5 appears to be syntenic with the genomic region carrying a major Al tolerance gene on chromosome 6 of maize. Another QTL, qRRE-9, appears to be similar among different rice populations, while qRRE-10 is unique in the BIL population. The common QTLs for CRE and RRE indicate that candidate genes conferring Al tolerance in the rice chromosome 9 may be associated with root growth rates. The existence of QTLs for Al tolerance was confirmed in substitution lines for corresponding chromosomal segments. These results also provide the possibilities of enhancing Al tolerance in rice through using marker-assisted selection (MAS) and pyramiding QTLs.     

基于染色体片段置换系群体检测水稻株型性状QTL

株型是由多个形态和生理性状集成的复合性状,它与水稻产量密切相关。挖掘优异株型等位基因或QTL,对水稻超高产育种具有重要意义。本研究利用籼稻昌恢121和粳稻Koshihikari构建的208个染色体片段置换系(chromosome segment substitution lines, CSSLs),在3个环境下,对控制株高、剑叶形态和分蘖数的QTL进行检测,共鉴定到35个株型性状QTL,分布于11条染色体上(除9号染色体以外),解释表型变异2.00%～22.86%。值得关注的是qPH-1-1、qFLW-6和qFLA-3均能在3个环境下被检测到,其中qFLW-6为1个新鉴定到的剑叶宽QTL。对qPH-1-1和qFLA-3位点进行鉴定,验证了这2个位点等位基因的加性效应和环境稳定性。本研究为株型性状QTL的进一步精细定位、克隆及分子辅助聚合育种奠定了基础。     

Phenotypic and QTL analyses of herbage production-related traits in perennial ryegrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium perenne</Emphasis> L.)

Phenotypic and genetic evaluation of morphological traits associated with herbage biomass production was undertaken in a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) biparental F₁ mapping population (n = 200) with parent plants from cultivars ‘Grasslands Impact’ and ‘Grasslands Samson’. Morphological traits measured on three clonal replicates of the parental genotypes and 200 F₁ progeny in a glasshouse in two separate trials (autumn and spring) included: dry weight (DW), leaf elongation rate (LER), initial tiller number (TNs), final tiller number (TNe), site filling (Fs), tiller weight (TW), leaf lamina length, leaf tip and ligule appearance rates (ALf, ALg) and leaf elongation duration (LED). Principal component analysis of patterns of trait association identified negative correlation between TNs or TNe, and TW as the primary basis for morphological difference and indicated that either high LER or long LED could reduce TN. Plants with higher LER tended to have increased DW. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected on all seven linkage groups (LG) of a perennial ryegrass linkage map for all but three traits. A total of 61 QTL were identified, many of which clustered at 15 shared genome locations. Significant genotype by environment effects were encountered, evidenced both by variation between experiments in genotype rankings and by a general lack of commonality for QTL for the same traits in the different experiments. Only five QTL, for ALf, ALg and TN, were conserved between autumn and spring trials. A QTL for TN and DW on LG6 is a strong candidate for application of MAS in future plant improvement work and was found to be co-linear with QTL for equivalent traits reported on chromosome 2 in rice.     

Screening of Barley Varieties for Drought Resistance

Barley varieties were screened for their efficient drought enduring ability and associated characters which may be useful in breeding programmes. The characters studied were: relative water content, content of proline, chlorophyll stability index (CSI), and percentage grain loss per plant due to water stress subjected to 10 days from jointing to boot stage. Proline and chlorophyll stability index were greatly associated with drought response (r =+0.54; -0.49), flag leaf area (r =+0.69; -0.51) and, to a certain extent, with leaf number (r = -0.35 and +0.34). Among the studied 19 varieties of barley, only three (DL 192, DL 36, DL 3) showed high enduring ability, of these the former two fall in the early, and the last one in the late flowering group. Morphological architecture of DL 192 had gathering type tiller (narrow tiller angle), wider and floppy leaves and it also bears physiological characters (high proline and high relative water content, and low value of chlorophyll stability index) necessary for drought resistance. DL 3 and DL 36 had dispersing type tiller (wider tiller angle) and erect leaf with good leaf area/plant, but unit leaf area was low in DL 3 (relates with shading behaviour reducing water loss). Other relations of drought resistance are briefly discussed in the text. An appraisal of the various traits revealed that high proline content, and low CSI (biochemical characters), earliness, larger flag leaf area and fewer leaves per plant (morphological characters) were directly correlated with productivity of the cultivars under drought conditions. These characters could be used as a guideline for breeding drought resistant cultivars of barley.     

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.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci with main and epistatic effects for plant architecture traits in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Plant architecture is important for cotton cultivation and breeding. In this study, two mapping generations/populations F₂ and F_2:3 in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), derived from ‘Baimian1’ and TM‐1, were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 10 plant architecture traits. A total of 55 main‐effect QTLs (M‐QTLs) were detected. Four common M‐QTLs, qTFB‐10(F₂/F_2:3) for total fruit branches, qFBL‐26b(F₂)/qFBL‐26(F_2:3) for fruit branch length, qFBA‐5(F₂/F_2:3) for fruit branch angle and qFBN‐26b(F₂)/qFBN‐26(F_2:3) for fruit branch nodes, were found. The synergistic alleles and the negative alleles can be utilized in cotton plant architecture breeding programmes according to specific breeding objectives. Altogether 54 pairs of epistatic QTLs (E‐QTLs) exhibiting the interactions of additive‐by‐additive (AA), additive‐by‐dominant (AD), dominant‐by‐additive (DA) and dominant‐by‐dominant (DD) were detected. The epistasis appeared to be an important contributor to genetic variation in cotton plant architecture traits. Therefore, the identified markers associated with E‐QTLs as well as M‐QTLs will be of importance in future breeding programmes to develop cotton cultivars exhibiting desirable plant architecture.     

江淮地区燕麦籽粒产量与农艺性状的相关性及通径分析

为了研究江淮地区燕麦籽粒生产的影响因素,选取了13个皮燕麦种质和7个裸燕麦种质,对其12个主要农艺性状和籽粒产量进行了相关性分析和通径分析。结果表明,12个农艺性状与皮燕麦籽粒产量的相关性大小依次为分蘖数>茎叶比>株高>茎粗>千粒重>穗长>旗叶宽>轮层数>小花数>穗鲜重>旗叶长>小穗数;对逐步回归分析筛选出的6个农艺性状和皮燕麦籽粒产量做通径分析,其直接效应依次为茎粗>分蘖数>茎叶比>穗长>株高>千粒重,株高和千粒重为负效应。农艺性状与裸燕麦籽粒产量相关性依次为小花数>旗叶长>小穗数>茎粗>穗长>分蘖数>穗鲜重>株高>轮层数>旗叶宽>茎叶比>千粒重;进行通径分析后,直接效应大小为穗鲜重>穗长>茎粗>小穗数>小花数>旗叶长>分蘖数,旗叶长和分蘖数为负效应。综合考虑,皮燕麦籽粒丰产的关键在于增加单株分蘖数;裸燕麦的生产过程中则要选择小穗性状优良、小花数适中的品种。     

Flag leaf area in five spring wheat crosses and the relationship to grain yield

Summary Five spring wheat crosses were evaluated over a 6-year period using comparisons between F₂ and F₃ data and between near-isogenic F₄ populations selected for flag leaf area. Nonsignificant r values for F₂ vs. F₃ flag leaf measurements may be due to the effect of environment on flag leaf area, but are probably also an indication of low heritability for this plant character. Near-isogenic populations selected on the basis of flag leaf area showed little difference in grain yield, an indication that other plant parts must be more influential in determining grain yield. Flag leaf area, by itself, appears not to be a good index to plant performance.Joint contribution of ARS/USDA and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. Published with approval of the Director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station as Paper No. 725. Journal Series. Use of data from Research Centers at Moccasin. Havre. Huntley, and Kalispell is gratefully acknowledged.     

Detection and analysis of QTLs for ferrous iron toxicity tolerance in rice, Oryza sativa L.

A mapping population of 96 BC₁F₉lines (Backcross Inbred Lines: BILs),derived by a single-seed descent method rom a backcross of Nipponbare (japonica) / Kasalath (indica // Nippon are, was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for leaf bronzing index (LBI), stem dry weight (SDW), tiller number (TN) and root dry weight (RDW) under Fe²⁺ stress condition in rice. Two parents and 96 BILs were phenotyped for the traits by growing them in Fe²⁺ toxicity nutrient solution. A total of four QTLs were detected on chromosome 1 and 3, respectively, with LOD of QTLs ranging from 3.17 to 7.03. One QTL controlling LBI, DW, N and RDW was located at the region of C955-C885 on chromosome 1, and their contributions to whole variation were 20.5%, 36.9%, 43.9% and 38.8%,respectively. The QTL located at the region of C955-C885 on chromosome 1 may be important to ferrous iron toxicity tolerance in rice. Another QTL for SDW and RDW was located at the region of C25-C515 on chromosome 3, with respective contributions of 47.9% and 35.0% to whole variation. Further, two QTLs on chromosome 1 were located for RDW at the region of R2329-R210 and for TN at the region of R1928-C178. Comparing with the other mapping results, the QTL located at the region of C955-C885 on chromosome 1 was identical with the results reported previously. There is a linkage between a TL detected under Fe²⁺ stress condition for stem and root dry weight and a QTL detected under phosphorus-deficiency condition for dry weight on chromosome 3. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Gene action and heritability for photosynthetic activity in two wheat crosses

Summary Gene action and heritability for photosynthetic activity were estimated from generation means in two wheat crosses during two stages (5 ^th leaf and flag leaf between 2 and 5 days after anthesis). Six generations were available for each cross: parents (P₁ and P₂), F₁, F₂ and backcrosses (BC₁ and BC₂).Correlations between some morphophysiological characters and photosynthetic activity of the flag leaf was also determined. The joint scaling test described by Mather & Jinks was used to determine the gene action. It showed that them; [d]; [h]; [i], [l] (mean, additivity, dominance, additive x additive interallelic interaction effects, dominance x dominance interallelic interaction effects) model fits the two crosses at both measurement times. All the model genetic components were significant for the flag leaf, however for the 5 ^th leaf only [h]; [i] and [l] were significant. The presence of additive and additive x additive effects suggested the possibility of selecting for this character using the flag leaf so as to obtain pure inbred lines. Dominance effects [h] were negative and dominance x dominance effects [l] were positive. Broad sense heritability values were medium to low. There were no correlations between the studied morphophysiological characters and the photosynthetic activity.     

Genome-wide association study of differences in 14 agronomic traits under low- and high-density planting models based on the 660k SNP array for common wheat

One hundred and ninety-seven wheat accessions from Yellow and Huai Winter Wheat Region (YHW) were evaluated for differences of 14 agronomic traits under low- and high-density plantings. Compared with the high-density plantings, plant height, neck length, uppermost internode length, flag leaf angle and number of sterile spikelets under the low-density plantings reduced, while heading date, flowering date, flag leaf length and width, spike length, number of fertile spikelets, grain number per spike, thousand-kernel weight and grain weight per spike increased. A total of 1,118 markers were detected based on GWAS, and seven QTLs were confirmed. One QTL on chromosomes 5BL and two other QTLs on 5Dl were all tightly associated with flowering date difference. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that two haploblocks in 5Dl were involved, and the Vrn-D1 locus was located in this interval. A region on chromosome 5B at around 531.5 Mb was significantly associated with plant height difference. Two QTLs including AX-94840438 (7BL) and AX-94563647 (7DS) were responsible for neck length or uppermost internode length difference.     

Fine mapping of a major quantitative trait locus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">qFLL6.2</Emphasis>, controlling flag leaf length and yield traits in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Fine mapping of a quantitative trait locus, qFLL6.2, controlling flag leaf length (FLL) and yield traits in rice was conducted using four sets of near isogenic lines (NILs) that were developed from a common residual heterozygote at F₇ generation of the indica rice cross Zhenshan 97/Milyang 46. Each of the NIL sets consisted of 40 lines that are S₁ progenies of ten maternal homozygotes, ten paternal homozygotes, and 20 heterozygotes differing in a portion of the 1.19-Mb interval RM3414–RM6917 on the short arm of rice chromosome 6. Analysis of phenotypic differences among the three genotypic groups in each NIL set delimited qFLL6.2 to a 62.1-kb region flanked by simple sequence repeat marker RM3414 and sequence-tagged site marker Si2944. This QTL explained 52.73% of the phenotypic variance, and the Zhenshan 97 allele increased FLL by 2.40 cm. Based on data collected from homozygous lines of three of the NIL sets, qFLL6.2 was shown to have major effects on all the three yield traits analyzed, including the number of spikelets per panicle, the number of filled grains per panicle, and grain weight per panicle. A comparison of the different groups revealed that the effect of qFLL6.2 was highly consistent across different genetic backgrounds and environments, providing a good candidate for map-based cloning and investigating the source–sink relationship in rice.     

小麦旗叶和芒的遗传及其与产量性状的相关性研究

通过对20个小麦品种（系）的研究表明,旗叶、芒对产量形成影响较大。旗叶、芒具有一定的遗传变异度,旗叶性状遗传力中等,芒遗传力较高。旗叶长、旗叶宽、旗叶面积、穗平均芒长均与穗粒重呈显著正相关;旗叶开张角、披垂度与穗粒重呈显著负相关。旗叶长与开张角、披垂度正相关,旗叶宽与开张角、披垂度负相关。育种中可将旗叶宽作为良好的株型性状加以选择。